Electronic Arts and the National Football League to Entertain Millions of Football Fans Through Multi-Year Exclusive Esports Deal Renewal

Rhea-AI Summary

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) announced a multi-year partnership renewal with the NFL to enhance the Madden NFL Championship Series, following a record-breaking 4x increase in viewership last season. The new agreement aims to align MCS events with key NFL moments and offers $1.7 million in total prize money. The MCS 23 season kicks off with the Ultimate Kickoff on September 7 and 9, featuring a $180,000 prize pool. The partnership reflects EA's commitment to engaging fans through esports and storytelling.

Positive

• 4x increase in MCS audience year-over-year highlights growing fan engagement.
• $1.7 million total prize pool for MCS 23 encourages competitive participation.
• Partnership aligns MCS with NFL events, enhancing visibility and fan interaction.

Negative

• None.

Partnership Extension Follows a Record Year for Madden NFL Esports with 4x Viewership Increase Last Season

Madden NFL 23 Championship Series Registration is Now Open; First Broadcast is the Ultimate Kickoff - Airing September 7 & 9

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) and the National Football League (NFL) revealed a new multi-year partnership renewal for the EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL Championship Series (MCS). The announcement follows competitive Madden NFL’s best season in history as last year’s MCS 22 achieved a 4x broadcast increase for its average minute audience year-over-year. The agreement will help align MCS with NFL events and key moments throughout the season, as the NFL and EA continue to grow and deepen NFL fandom through esports. The NFL and EA will elevate Madden NFL competitors into stars, using creative, humanizing storytelling to entertain Madden and football fans alike.

REGISTER TO COMPETE IN THE MCS 23 HERE

“Madden NFL esports continues to deepen the love of the game with fans, players, and viewers. It’s teaching viewers how to improve at the game, while deepening engagement with Madden’s most loyal fanbase,” said Brent Koning, VP of EA Esports. “Since the MCS started five years ago, it has helped showcase the game by elevating the greatest players in the world, while giving every single Madden NFL player the chance to go from couch to champion. We can’t wait to see how the MCS 23 season unfolds.”

“As a trusted partner for more than 30 years, EA’s commitment to football authenticity with Madden NFL is exemplary,” said Ed Kiang, VP, Video Gaming at the NFL. “Extending our partnership with EA is another avenue for the League to grow fandom off the field and enhance the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Championship Series by aligning Madden competitive gaming with NFL moments. Our joint efforts will drive the type of excitement that NFL fans expect while also highlighting the best Madden players in the world.”

To maximize reach and fan engagement, the recently announced MCS 23 calendar will closely align with the NFL season, culminating with the Ultimate Madden NFL 23 Bowl during the week of Super Bowl LVII, as $1.7 million in total prize money is up for grabs throughout the season.

The NFL and EA will partner on innovative new experiences to provide fans around the world with more ways to connect with the excitement of NFL football. Additionally, Campbell’s Chunky® Soup will return as an MCS partner and receive virtual naming rights to the uniquely created Campbell's Chunky® Stadium.

MCS 23 will feature an expanded competitive program for football and esports fans, providing more ways to compete and additional entertainment to watch. A high-level breakdown of MCS 23 tournaments, qualification, and registration details can be found below.

• Ultimate Kickoff:
  • Registration: August 8-21
  • Qualifiers: August 20-28
  • Broadcast: September 7 & 9
  • Prize Pool: $180,000
• Ultimate Thanksgiving:
  • Registration: September 5 - October 2
  • Qualifiers: October 1 – October 23
  • Broadcast: November 9-16
  • Prize Pool: $260,000
• Ultimate Wild Card:
  • Registration: November 7 - December 1
  • Qualifiers: November 29 - December 18
  • Broadcast: January 6-11
  • Prize Pool: $260,000
• Last Chance Qualifier:
  • Registration: January 2-14
  • Qualifiers: January 14-15
• Ultimate Madden NFL 23 Bowl:
  • Broadcast: January 23 & 27; February 2-3 & 10
  • Prize Pool: $1,000,000

For more information, please visit the Madden NFL 23 Championship Series website and follow the @eamaddennfl_mcs for the latest updates.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.

In fiscal year 2022, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS™ FIFA, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.

EA SPORTS, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Titanfall and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. STAR WARS © & TM 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. John Madden, NFL, FIFA and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.

*Dynamic Gameday, Gameday Atmosphere, Gameday Momentum, Next Gen Stats Star-Driven AI, Home Field Advantage, Star-Driven AI are only available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005464/en/

Liana Bailey, National Football League

liana.bailey@nfl.com

Travis Varner, Electronic Arts

tvarner@ea.com

Source: Electronic Arts Inc.

FAQ

What is the new partnership between EA and the NFL about?

The partnership focuses on enhancing the Madden NFL Championship Series, aligning it with NFL events.

When does the Madden NFL Championship Series 23 start?

The MCS 23 season starts with the Ultimate Kickoff on September 7 and 9, 2023.

How much prize money is available in the MCS 23?

There is a total prize pool of $1.7 million for the Madden NFL Championship Series 23.

What was the increase in viewership for the Madden NFL Championship Series last season?

The viewership increased 4x year-over-year.

Who is the VP of EA Esports mentioned in the press release?

Brent Koning is the VP of EA Esports.