The fourth quarter was the quietest of 2018 for non-endemic sponsorship deals, but that year-end trend wouldn’t continue: Q1 2019 brought a surge of new esports partnerships from companies outside of the gaming space.
The Esports Observer reported on 76 such deals between January and March—a 145% increase from the 31 deals reported on in Q4 2018, and also a 95% year-over-year increase over the 39 deals covered in Q1 2018. Not only did the sheer number of new non-endemic sponsorships rise, but the first quarter of the year also featured deals with prominent brands like Coca-Cola, AT&T, Honda, State Farm, and Nissan.
Here’s a look at the quarter’s biggest non-endemic deals and notable sponsorship trends.
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Credit: Nissan
Carmakers raced into the industry last quarter with major team signings and league sponsorships. RFRSH Entertainment 
