Football Association's eSports FA Cup tournament to return to Wembley Stadium for a second year
The Football Association (FA) has confirmed that its eSports tournament will return for a second year after announcing that the Emirates FA Cup gaming tournament ‘Every Gamer’s Adventure’, is returning for 2017.
The tournament will once again take place at Wembley Stadium
The one-day eSports tournament will see Fifa 17 players from across the world compete at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 6 May for the chance to win a VIP experience at The Emirates FA Cup Final three weeks later.
The 64-player tournament replicates the format of the real Emirates FA Cup, with one player selected at random to represent each club from this year’s third round onwards.
Early rounds will take place in various locations within the stadium including the player’s tunnel and the changing rooms with the final being held in the centre circle of the pitch on 82ft screens. The eventual winner will then be given the opportunity to lift the Emirates FA Cup in the Royal Box
Lucy Roberts-Hartley, The Emirates FA Cup, senior brand manager said: “We’re incredibly excited to announce the return of Every Gamer’s Adventure to Wembley Stadium in 2017. Last year’s tournament was action-packed and saw the likes of Bury FC reach the quarter finals, showcasing - much like the real Emirates FA Cup - that truly anything can happen.
“We want to invite gamers from across the world to register for a chance to take part and descend on the home of football, raising the stakes even higher in 2017 to see if anyone else can cause an almighty Emirates FA Cup upset.”
The eSports market has emerged as a major spectator spectacle and is starting to align itself with traditional spectator sports such as football. In November 2016 the French Professional Football took a huge League (LFP) commercial step forward with its eSports league after agreeing a broadcast agreement with beIN Sports and Webedia to show games from the inaugural season of the e-Ligue 1.
The popularity of the sector is also evident in the growing trend of big football clubs signing their own eSports players to represent them in tournaments.
Players can enter the tournament via www.everygamersadventure.com, where they will be entered into a ballot and subsequently selected at random to be one of the 64 names in the third round draw.