Wisdom Gaming, an esports-focused production company, and the Minnesota Twins announced a partnership Wednesday that will make the Twins the official spring 2022 sponsor of the Minnesota Varsity League (MNVL).
MNVL is a high school-level esports league consisting of over 50 schools and nearly 1,000 players. During the season, the Twins will sponsor 32 live streams during the regular season, three streams during the league's all-star weekend and six more streams during the league's state finals in June.
The league is now free due to sponsorships from the Twins and other partners, including Gwoop, Minnesota Rokkr, Torrent and LeagueSpot. The Twins logo will also appear on the official MNVL website, live streams and video platforms.
"The growth and scale that MNVL has shown in the past few years have been nothing short of incredible," said Nicole Du Cane, vice president of business development and sales for Bloomington-based Wisdom Gaming, in a statement. "The prestige in bringing on a sponsor like the Minnesota Twins not only allows for MNVL's continued growth but also sets an example for students and parents of the level of support there is for the next generation of esports professionals."
MNVL was founded by Wisdom Gaming in 2019 and aims to provide students with skills that will benefit their academic and professional careers.
Last year, Wisdom Gaming announced it was launching a broadcast studio and esports venue in the Mall of America. The 18,000-square-foot facility will include a gaming lounge, seating for a live audience and a retail shop.
Wisdom Gaming is one of many Twin Cities companies operating in the burgeoning field of esports.
Wise Ventures, backed by the owners of the Minnesota Vikings, owns Minnesota Rokkr, a professional esports team that plays in the Call of Duty League.
Edina-based startup Gwoop raised $1.8 million in venture funding last year for its esports-training platform that is aimed at developing the skills of high school players. Meanwhile, Minneapolis-based LeagueOS just launched out of the Minnesota Twins Techstars accelerator with a platform to run esports leagues and live events for amateur players and leagues.
