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NACE Starleague: A New Era for Collegiate Esports in North America
CSL Esports, a subsidiary of Playfly Sports, has teamed up with the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), Nerd Street Gamers, and Mainline to unveil the NACE Starleague, a groundbreaking collegiate esports league that aims to be the largest of its kind in North America. This innovative collaboration will bring together numerous schools from existing leagues operated by both CSL and NACE, including notable institutions such as the University of North Carolina, Louisiana State University, Boise State University, and Villanova.
The league’s operations will leverage Mainline’s tournament platform for match execution, while Nerd Street Gamers will handle the broadcasting and live event coordination. Additionally, teams participating in the league will have access to Nerd Street’s Localhost gaming facilities, providing dedicated spaces for competitions.
Designed to accommodate a wide range of skill levels, the league will feature multiple tiers of competition, from entry-level play to varsity-sanctioned teams. Schools wishing to participate at the varsity level will need to register through NACE, with all competing teams required to maintain NACE membership.
Rob Johnson, CEO of CSL Esports, emphasized the importance of this partnership in fostering the growth of collegiate esports. In a statement to Sports Business Journal, he said, “We’ve put together four partners that are now invested in helping these programs and students grow and validating the student athletes within college esports.”
The NACE Starleague will operate over two distinct seasons each year, allowing for multiple entry points for new students, schools, and clubs eager to engage in esports. This structure is intended to facilitate a broader participation landscape within collegiate esports.
Johnson envisions an inclusive future for collegiate esports over the next three to five years, advocating for equal access to resources across all schools. He outlined a comprehensive vision: “Every school has the resources to have an [esports] program, and to have that grow. And also from a scholarship and career development perspective to bring that education, healthiness of play, and oversight into what it means to be a student athlete within esports.”
Concerns have been voiced regarding the amalgamation of significant tournament circuits, particularly about potential restrictions on competition access. However, Johnson clarified that limiting opportunities is not the league’s intention. “We’re not in this to wall off any gardens or to make sure that players have less opportunity; we want to ensure there is more opportunity,” he stated, affirming the league’s commitment to inclusivity. Furthermore, he noted the absence of exclusive agreements with game publishers.
By merging these two leagues that have historically operated alongside one another, CSL Esports aims to establish a more substantial media presence in the collegiate esports arena. Johnson explained, “What we did here is take two leagues that have been operating side by side and coordinating schedules, and now we’re building a bigger media property. And with Nerd Street bringing the cameras and production back to in-person [events], now we have a more watchable product.”
To enhance the league’s visibility and attract sponsorships, CSL will lean on the expertise of its parent company, Playfly Sports. Recognized for its role in traditional scholastic athletics’ media rights and advertising, Playfly plans to extend its reach into the burgeoning field of esports through this new league.
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