Featured image credit: Monumental Sports & Entertainment
District E Powered by Ticketmaster, a new multi-purpose live event venue set to open next to Capital One Arena, has been awarded hosting rights for the NBA 2K League’s 2023 season.
The Washington, D.C. venue, which is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), is due to open soon ahead of the start of the NBA 2K League season on March 8. The season will run until August 5.
The competition will award $2.5m (£2.1m/€2.3m) in cash prizes across The Banner Chain Series Powered by AT&T and Coinbase NBA 2KL 3v3 Blacktop Series tournaments, as well as the NBA 2K League 3v3 and 5v5 Playoffs.
For the first time, the NBA 2K League season will be separated into 3v3 and 5v5 halves, with the former to run from March 8 to May 15 and the latter to take place from May 23 to August 5.
MSE announced plans for the venue in January 2022. The space will span nearly 14,000 square feet and offer year-round immersive experiences in esports, music, event programming and community events.
It will be located adjacent to Capital One Arena, home of the NHL’s Washington Capitals and NBA’s Washington Wizards, and will provide pre- and post-event activations for fans of the two teams.
The venue features a public-facing esports competition studio that will host over 200 events a year, as well as an esports practice centre. MSE is also partnering with Aramark to operate a restaurant and bar experience that will support events hosted throughout the year.
Brendan Donohue, president of the NBA 2K League, said: “Pioneers of esports since the beginning, including through their success with two-time NBA 2K League champion Wizards District Gaming, we are thrilled to partner with the Leonsis family and Monumental Sports & Entertainment to help launch their new state-of-the-art facility, District E Powered by Ticketmaster. We can’t wait to make Washington, D.C. our home in 2023 and bring the excitement of the NBA 2K League to fans at District E.”
Zach Leonsis, president of media and new enterprises at MSE, added: “As early investors in the NBA 2K League, we are honoured to host the most elite esports athletes in the world at our new esports and entertainment facility in our nation’s capital.
“The League has designed an exciting season and we look forward to welcoming their fans and the rest of the vast gaming community from across the Mid-Atlantic to District E for a first-of-its-kind experience. And for those new to esports, we believe we are going to turn them into die-hard fans once they see the amazing live action in person and all the other amenities which District E will have to offer.”
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