As the world continues to practice social distancing and remain inside amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the e-sports sector has taken off and Facebook Gaming is leveraging this trend with a new celebrity Mario Tennis Aces tournament, aptly titled 'Sat at Home Slam.'
The newly launched platform will be pairing up celebrites including Gigi Hadid and Serena Williams, Hailey Bieber and Naomi Osaka, and Karlie Kloss and Maria Sharapova for a series of live-streamed matches. All competitors will receive $25,000 USD to donate to their charity of choice while the winner will be awarded an additional $1 million USD donation.
The Facebook Gaming "Stay at Home Slam" livestream begins on May 3 at 4 p.m. EST on Facebook Gaming and the IMG Tennis Facebook page.
Livestream Virtual Tennis Matches
Facebook Gaming is Host a Celebrity Mario Tennis Aces Tournament
Trend Themes
1. E-sports Celebrity Tournaments - Opportunity for brands to create and sponsor virtual gaming tournaments featuring celebrities, increasing brand exposure and engagement.
2. Livestreamed Sporting Events - Potential for sports organizations to livestream matches and tournaments, allowing fans to engage with the content from home and creating new revenue streams.
3. Social Media Gaming Platforms - Emerging space for social media platforms to host and promote gaming events, attracting both gamers and non-gamers and increasing user engagement.
Industry Implications
1. E-sports - Disruptive innovation opportunity for e-sports organizations to collaborate with celebrities and leverage their influence to reach broader audiences.
2. Sports Entertainment - Opportunity for sports organizations to embrace livestreaming as a way to connect with fans directly and create unique interactive experiences.
3. Social Media - Potential for social media platforms to tap into the growing gaming market and offer unique gaming experiences, attracting and engaging users.