Raleigh, N.C. To Host the ePremier12 USA Finals and Opening Rounds
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 2pm
USA Baseball Brings Top Esports Players of WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS To Compete
Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2024) – Visit Raleigh, the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) and the Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee (GRELOC) are proud to announce that USA Baseball is slated to host two major esports tournaments this weekend at the North Carolina State University (NC State) Gaming and Esports Lab located on Centennial Campus. The USA eBaseball Finals will take place on October 25, while the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) ePremier12 Opening Round will take place on October 26 and 27.
Friday’s USA Finals, which will begin at 11am EST, will feature the top six players in the WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS from the United States battling it out for the final three spots in the Opening Round of the ePremier12 global competition. The three qualifiers from the USA Finals will join three other pre-qualified international champions in Group A in the Opening Round starting on Saturday. Winners of the Opening Round will qualify for the ePremier12 Super Round and Finals, which will take place in Tokyo, Japan, on November 21-23. Both tournaments occurring in Raleigh will be open to the public to watch and will also be live streamed on USA Baseball’s YouTube channel and WBSC’s YouTube channel.
"Greater Raleigh continues to attract major global esports events as a result of our collaborative efforts with our local stakeholders and partners," said Loren Gold, executive vice president of Visit Raleigh. "Pairing USA Baseball’s leadership with NC State’s new Gaming and Esports Lab is a mutually beneficial scenario that we always strive for. This event is the third time in two years that a video game title from the publisher KONAMI has been featured in a major esports event in Greater Raleigh and the first for an Olympic Esports Series game title. Hosting these top players in Raleigh is noteworthy, as their global fans follow and celebrate every move on and off the digital field of play. The live streaming element via the YouTube channels also brings high visibility and awareness to USA Baseball, NC State University and Greater Raleigh.”
WBSC and Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. (KONAMI) have published WBSC eBASEBALL™: POWER PROS in over 60 countries on the PlayStation™ Store and Nintendo eShop. The video game title marks another significant step in the long-standing partnership between the international governing body of baseball-softball WBSC and video game publishing giant KONAMI.
Through the video game, baseball aficionados and gamers alike have a new, fun and exciting way to enjoy baseball through esports and expand the love of the game to millions of fans. With over 300 characters to choose from, players can assemble their team of batters, catchers and pitchers to compete in online games against rivals from all over the world. Mix and match different athletes with different stats to find the winning formula.
"The USA Baseball National Training Complex opened its doors in 2007 at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary, N.C. and continues to play a major role in Greater Raleigh’s success as a global sport hosting destination. Our collaborative partnership with WBSC, NC State University's Esports Program, Visit Raleigh, GRSA and GRELOC to bring this event to Raleigh, N.C., now brings us forward into the newer world of competitive video gaming (esports) through a passion for our destination and our beloved national pastime sport," said Russell Hartford, senior director of technology for USA Baseball.
About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, Visit Raleigh is responsible for promoting Wake County as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, the organization strengthens the industry and community's economic position and provides opportunities for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 18.5 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.2 billion. The visitor economy supports nearly 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $307 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $712 in taxes annually. visitRaleigh.com
About GRELOC:
The Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee (GRELOC) is supported by a diverse group of local civic, sports and business leaders who are interested in growing esports and gaming activities. GRELOC helps stimulate the local economy and serves Greater Raleigh by helping it actively participate in the fastest-growing segment of the entertainment industry. GRELOC helps bring esports events, leagues, tournaments, teams, players and other related gaming activities to the Greater Raleigh area and supports the local gaming community and scholastic programs. PLAY. WATCH. MAKE. raleighsports.gg
About USA Baseball:
Since 1978, USA Baseball has been the national governing body for amateur baseball. It represents the sport in the United States as a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and internationally as a member federation of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Nearly every major national amateur baseball organization in America is united as a USA Baseball national member organization. As a result, USA Baseball governs more than 15.6 million amateur players in ballparks and playgrounds across the country. As the commissioner's office for amateur baseball, USA Baseball is a resource center for its various membership groups, fans and players. USA Baseball is also responsible for promoting and developing the game of baseball on the grassroots level, both nationally and internationally.
Media Contacts:
Visit Raleigh
Dana Goodwin
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.830.1289
dgoodwin@visitRaleigh.com
USA Baseball
Russell Hartford
Senior Director, Technology
919.474.8721 x 232
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