ECAC Esports
ECAC Esports is the collegiate esports arm of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, operating structured league and championship competition across 24 game titles for 315+ member colleges fielding 5,000+ teams across North America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersDanbury, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ECAC Esports does
ECAC Esports is the collegiate esports division of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), a private, 80+ year-old collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut that oversees NCAA competition across all three divisions. The program organizes structured intercollegiate esports through online league seasons (Fall and Spring) across 24 game titles including League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, VALORANT, Fortnite, FIFA, and Madden, with regular-season competition managed on the LeagueSpot platform (ecac.leaguespot.gg) and live broadcast distributed via Twitch, YouTube, and partner channels. Member schools compete for ECAC championships and Commissioner's Cup recognition, with select titles offering advancement to national championships such as the CECC (operated by partner CSMG at Esports Stadium Arlington) and the Riot Games College League of Legends national tournament.
The offering extends beyond competition to include All-Academic honors (3.2+ GPA), women's-only leagues, alumni esports leagues, annual major awards, and on-campus invitational series (e.g., Campus Series Invitational at Post University). Annual in-person championships at HV Gamer Con (Albany Capital Center) drew 2,500 attendees in 2019, and the CECC national championship held in Arlington, Texas in May 2023 gathered 64 teams and approximately 400 student-athletes under McDonald's presenting sponsorship.
The business model combines recurring member institution registration, corporate sponsorship and partnership revenue (HyperX, DreamSeat, McDonald's, Rally Cry, ADVANCED, CORSAIR, and others, brokered exclusively by CSMG), and event-level ticketing and licensing revenue. Distribution is direct-to-institution, with the program expanding from 23 member schools in 2018-19 to 315+ schools and 5,000+ teams by 2024, and reaching into 18+ U.S. states and Canada.
ECAC Esports firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ECAC Esports
- Legal name
- Eastern College Athletic Conference
- Website
- https://ecacesports.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ECAC Esports is the collegiate esports arm of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, operating structured league and championship competition across 24 game titles for 315+ member colleges fielding 5,000+ teams across North America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ECAC Esports industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Collegiate Esports League Operations
- NAICS
- Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Collegiate/Scholastic Esports Programs & Leagues (MPAFADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Collegiate Esports Leagues & Tournaments (MPAKANAG)
Keywords
Where ECAC Esports is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Danbury
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ECAC Esports business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Member Institution Registration Fees: Schools pay to join ECAC Esports as member institutions, participating in seasonal leagues across multiple game titles. While no explicit fee amounts are disclosed in the source material, registration is required and schools are invited to contact ECAC to register.
- Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: ECAC Esports generates revenue through corporate sponsorships and partnerships. Named sponsors/partners include Rally Cry, HyperX (peripheral partner), DreamSeat (official gaming chair), Chank's Grab-N-Go, CORSAIR, and others. The relationship with CSMG (Collegiate Sports Management Group) includes CSMG brokering sponsorship deals and managing commercial interests.
- Event Ticketing Revenue: In-person events such as HV Gamer Con and CECC (Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup) charge admission. Ticket prices noted include $40 for adults and $20 for students (all-session passes), and $25/$15 for individual sessions. The CECC event at Esports Stadium Arlington also sells tickets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | HV Gamer Con all-session passes (two-day access) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HV Gamer Con individual session passes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
ECAC Esports product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ECAC Esports organizes and runs structured collegiate esports competition across approximately 24 game titles, including League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege. It operates online Fall and Spring league seasons for member institutions, culminating in in-person championship events such as HV Gamer Con and the Collegiate Esports Championship Cup (CECC), along with ancillary programs including the Commissioner Cup, All-Academic Honors, women's leagues, and an alumni program.
Product overview
ECAC Esports operates a comprehensive national collegiate esports league and competition platform under the Eastern College Athletic Conference umbrella. The core offering is organized competitive gaming across 24 game titles (including League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, VALORANT, Hearthstone, FIFA, and Madden), with online league competition in fall and spring seasons, culminating in in-person championships such as HV Gamer Con and CECC. The program supports over 315 member schools fielding 5,000+ teams across North America. Additional offerings include the Commissioner’s Cup for overall program excellence, Women’s Esports League, Alumni Esports Program, All-Academic Honors, and Major Awards. The platform is powered by LeagueSpot for competition management and streams live on Twitch.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ECAC Esports League Season (Fall & Spring) Online collegiate esports league seasons (Fall and Spring) spanning approximately 24 game titles, including League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege, with matches played remotely among 315+ member institutions.
- HV Gamer Con (In-Person Championship & Expo) An in-person esports championship and gaming expo where collegiate league seasons culminate in live finals; combines competitive finals with an expo/expo-hall experience for attendees.
- Collegiate Esports Championship Cup (CECC)
Quantifiable outcome
- Member schools grew from 23 in 2018-19 to 315+ by 2024, demonstrating rapid adoption
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ECAC Esports
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
ECAC Esports technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
ECAC Esports partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rally CrycoreECAC Esports announced a partnership with Rally Cry in August 2024. Rally Cry is listed among ECAC Esports' partner logos on the home page. The nature of the partnership involves Rally Cry's branding as a featured partner in the esports ecosystem.
- ADVANCEDcoreADVANCED is a presenting sponsor of the ECAC Esports Commissioner's Cup. The partnership provides prize support and brand visibility for the annual award recognizing the member school with the most broad-based success across all ECAC esports game titles.
- HyperXcoreHyperX is the Official Peripheral Partner of ECAC Esports. HyperX products (headsets, keyboards, mice, mousepads) are featured at HV GamerCon and the ECAC Esports National Championship. Named the 2019 Esports Commercial Partner of the Year. HyperX aims to support the next generation of esports superstars through ECAC programs.
- Fairfield by MarriottminorFairfield Inn & Suites Albany East Greenbush, owned and managed by Baywood Hotels, was named the Official Hotel Partner of HV Gamer Con 2020. The partnership was brokered by CSMG to provide accommodation options for attendees and participants.
- DreamSeat LLCcoreDreamSeat was named the Official Gaming Chair of ECAC Esports. Based in Commack, NY, DreamSeat manufactures high-quality furniture with their patented XZipit interchangeable logo system. The partnership provides branded seating at ECAC Esports events.
- Riot GamescoreThree-year partnership (2020-2022) announced November 2019 to launch ECAC League of Legends. Twenty ECAC member schools participate, with the ECAC League of Legends champion earning a berth in the National League of Legends tournament and College Championship. Michael Sherman of Riot Scholastic Association of America noted ECAC as a 'trailblazer in college esports.' League competition commenced January 2020.
- Chank's Grab-N-GominorChank's, a South Jersey snack company, partnered with ECAC to reach over 225 ECAC members and championship venues. The partnership leverages ECAC's college sports presence to expand Chank's brand into collegiate athletics and esports venues.
- 1HP (1HP)minorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos on the home page. 1HP is a gaming/health-related brand partner.
- Voice (Voice.com)minorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos on the home page.
- NAECADminorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos. NAECAD (National Association of Collegiate Esports Administrators and Directors) is the industry association for collegiate esports programs.
- SEA (Sports & Entertainment Alliance)minorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos.
- SUNY (State University of New York)core54 SUNY schools joined ECAC Esports for the Fall 2024 season. The SUNY system represents the largest single block of new membership in recent history, with SUNY branding featured as a partner logo on the ECAC Esports site.
- CCL (Collegiate Conference League)minorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos on the home page.
- CiL (College individual League)minorListed among ECAC Esports partner logos on the home page.
- Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG)coreCSMG is the exclusive multi-media rights partner for ECAC Esports. They broker sponsorship deals (HyperX, DreamSeat, Chank's), operate the CECC national championships, manage broadcast production via N3rd Street Gamers, and handle sponsorship sales and licensing for the program. Long-term partnership announced January 2020. Thomas O'Keefe serves as Manager of Brand Partnerships and Esports at CSMG.
- McDonald'scoreMcDonald's was the presenting sponsor of the CECC (Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup) Texas event held May 6-7, 2023 at Esports Stadium Arlington, TX. The partnership brought 64 teams and ~400 athletes to the national championship.
- CSMG (Collegiate Sports Management Group) - CECC OperationscoreCECC Texas was operated by CSMG (Collegiate Sports Management Group). CSMG managed tournament operations, logistics, and broadcast at Esports Stadium Arlington, TX.
- LeagueSpotcoreLeagueSpot is the official competition platform for ECAC Esports, powering league management, scheduling, and standings at ecac.leaguespot.gg. Used for all online regular season competition.
- Albany Capital Center (ACC)coreThe Albany Capital Center is the primary venue for HV Gamer Con, ECAC's flagship in-person championship event. ACC, along with CEG, ECAC, and MAAC, form the core organizing partnership for HV Gamer Con. The venue hosts 2,500+ attendees for the annual esports championship.
- N3rd Street Gamers (NSG)coreNSG was the broadcast partner for HV Gamer Con 2019, providing tournament administration and live streaming production. NSG operates Localhost Arenas and the National Championship Series (NCS) amateur tournament pipeline. They distributed broadcasts live on Twitch via ECAC Esports and MAAC channels.
- Gaming InsomniacscoreGaming Insomniacs, a Schenectady, NY-based esports organization founded by Jide Osipitan, was partnered for the 2020 HV Gamer Con to oversee the amateur tournament. They also hosted an ECAC in-person championship at their competition facility in Schenectady in March 2020. Gaming Insomniacs specializes in recreational and competitive gaming for semi-pro and high school leagues.
- Esports Stadium ArlingtoncoreEsports Stadium Arlington, TX served as the venue for CECC Texas 2023 national championships. The venue is operated by CSMG and hosted 64 teams across four game titles.
- Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)coreMAAC was the founding partner for ECAC Esports, co-hosting the inaugural 2018 ECAC eSports Exhibition and Invitational at the Albany Capital Center. MAAC sponsored Fan Fest activities and provided access to 11 member institutions. ECAC operates esports leagues separately but coordinates with MAAC for in-person events and championships.
- Center for Economic Growth (CEG)coreCEG is a key partner in the HV Gamer Con event. CEG secured $152,000 (2018) and $157,324 (2019) grants from New York's Regional Economic Development Council to fund and promote HV Gamer Con as the largest northeast collegiate esports event in the Capital Region. CEG studies show the Capital Region's video game development cluster employs 350+ workers.
- CORSAIRcoreCORSAIR was an official corporate sponsor of the 2018 ECAC Esports Expo and Invitational, providing gaming peripherals (headsets, mice, keyboards) for competitor use. CORSAIR was described as a 'world leader in PC gaming peripherals' and has been synonymous with quality esports entertainment since 1994.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ECAC Esports competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Playfly Sports: Playfly Sports is a major collegiate sports multi-media rights and sponsorship company; comparable to ECAC's CSMG partnership in commercializing collegiate athletics IP and increasingly collegiate esports.
- Learfield IMG College: Learfield (now Learfield/IMG College) is the largest collegiate athletics multi-media rights and sponsorship company, serving as a broad incumbent analogue to CSMG's role in commercializing ECAC Esports.
Direct peers
- NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports): National Association of Collegiate Esports is a leading direct competitor, offering multi-title collegiate esports leagues, championships, and student programming across U.S. colleges and universities with similar target member schools.
- EsportsU (CECC Operator): EsportsU operates the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC) including broadcast on Twitch.tv/esportsu; it is a direct competitor running national esports championships that overlap with ECAC Esports' CECC partnership.
- NECC (National Esports Collegiate Conference): NECC operates a competing collegiate esports league with national membership, scholarship prize pools, and championship events across multiple game titles, directly overlapping with ECAC Esports' member schools and tournament structure.
- Collegiate Star League (CSL): CSL is a long-running collegiate esports league organizer founded in 2010, running seasonal leagues and championships across multiple game titles for North American college students, directly competing for the same schools and student-athletes.
Emerging players
- NASEF (North American Scholastic Esports Federation): NASEF operates scholastic and collegiate esports leagues and STEM-aligned programming, with overlap in target member institutions and a similar nonprofit/association model to ECAC Esports.
- National Esports Association (NESA): NESA is a national nonprofit organizing scholastic and collegiate esports leagues and championships; comparable to ECAC Esports as an emerging player pursuing multi-school collegiate esports competition.
Others
- CSMG (Collegiate Sports Management Group): CSMG is ECAC Esports' exclusive commercial/sponsorship partner and operates the CECC national championships; relevant as a peer because it is a competitor in the same multi-media rights and collegiate esports commercialization space, including for other conferences.
- MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference): MAAC is the ECAC co-founding partner of ECAC Esports and operates its own affiliated esports programming; comparable as a sibling NCAA conference that runs its own collegiate esports efforts and championships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ECAC Esports social profiles
Digital presenceECAC Esports financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ECAC Esports leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ECAC Esports funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ECAC Esports M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ECAC Esports
What does ECAC Esports do?
ECAC Esports organizes and runs structured collegiate esports competition across approximately 24 game titles, including League of Legends, Overwatch, Valorant, Rocket League, Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Rainbow Six Siege. It operates online Fall and Spring league seasons for member institutions, culminating in in-person championship events such as HV Gamer Con and the Collegiate Esports Championship Cup (CECC), along with ancillary programs including the Commissioner Cup, All-Academic Honors, women's leagues, and an alumni program.
Is ECAC Esports a public or private company?
ECAC Esports is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ECAC Esports founded?
ECAC Esports was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ECAC Esports based?
ECAC Esports is headquartered in Danbury, United States, in the North America region.
How does ECAC Esports make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Member Institution Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship and Partnership Revenue and event Ticketing Revenue.
Who are ECAC Esports's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Playfly Sports and Learfield IMG College. Direct peers are NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports), EsportsU (CECC Operator), NECC (National Esports Collegiate Conference) and Collegiate Star League (CSL). Emerging players are NASEF (North American Scholastic Esports Federation) and National Esports Association (NESA). Others are CSMG (Collegiate Sports Management Group) and MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference).
Does ECAC Esports have an API?
No public API is recorded for ECAC Esports.
What industry is ECAC Esports in?
ECAC Esports's product category is Collegiate Esports League Operations. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFADAK, Collegiate/Scholastic Esports Programs & Leagues, with a secondary code of MPAKANAG, Collegiate Esports Leagues & Tournaments. Its NAICS code is 71121 and its SIC code is 7997.