NEW YORK (June 15, 2021) – Rival has partnered with Austin Ekeler’s Gridiron Gaming Group (GGG) as its official gaming enterprise platform provider. The platform will launch this month.

Gridiron Gaming Group, founded by Los Angeles Chargers Running Back Austin Ekeler, will leverage Rival’s white-label enterprise platform solution to directly connect professional athletes with the ever-growing global community of gamers. The platform will provide GGG with the ability to host tournaments, offer prizes and incentives and build a deeper relationship between the pros and the gaming community.

“Our partnership with Rival elevates Gridiron Gaming Group’s capabilities as we build on our mission to provide professional athletes and public figures the tools they need to expand their gaming profile, connect with and monetize their presence in the gaming community and ultimately, build their personal brand,” said Ekeler.

“GGG is all about building community between fans and athletes and working with Rival will help take our mission to the next level,” said Ekeler. “I’m most excited about Rival’s ability to help us build out tournaments that give our fans a great experience to compete against us and against each other. We can’t wait to start working together.”

Founded by Ekeler and Dynamic Sports Group’s Cameron Weiss, GGG helps pro athletes expand their brand in gaming and monetize their streaming communities. With the growth of esports and live streaming services, GGG helps athletes capitalize on the potential to expand their reach, connect with their fans, and become successful in the gaming and entertainment community.

Among other functions, GGG helps with gaming setup, streaming strategy, creative consulting, sub and follower growth and brand and sponsor procurement and activation. GGG has worked with several major brands to date and the addition of more prominent athletes should further the value proposition the group brings to its partners and sponsors.

“Rival is a non-traditional marketing arm for our partners, and in this unique case, we’re extending what Gridiron Gaming provides its clients to build their brand through the massive opportunities in gaming and esports,” said Rival CMO Dan Parise. “We’re excited to build on GGG’s early success and help shape the way it serves its growing roster of clients.”

Rival has onboarded more than 20 partners in the last six months across sports properties, media companies and brands. In addition to the GGG, its client roster includes the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, Aston Villa of the English Premier League, Watford of the EFL Championship, the Amateur Athletic Union, to name a few.

About Rival

Rival provides a first-of-its-kind, enterprise platform solution that empowers companies and organizations to leverage the popularity of gaming and esports to acquire new customers, drive engagement, build a loyal community around their brands and create new revenue streams. Through its proprietary technology, Rival connects the massive global appeal and audience of gaming and esports with sports teams, leagues, brands and media properties. With operations in two continents, Rival’s current partnership roster includes the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, NBA’s Detroit Pistons, Aston Villa and Watford of the English Premier League, as well as organizations including the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). For more information, visit goRival.com.

About Gridiron Gaming Group

Founded by Austin Ekeler and Cameron Weiss, Gridiron Gaming Group helps athletes build their gaming and streaming platforms. With the growth of esports and live-streaming platforms such as Twitch — there’s an incredible opportunity for pro-athletes to generate new revenue streams in the gaming industry. The Gridiron Gaming Group helps athletes quickly engage with their existing fan base using the foundational aspects already in place in this industry. Gridiron Gaming Group’s mission is to give athletes the tools needed to be a successful gamer, including tech setup, streaming coaching, creative consulting, sub & follower growth and sponsored event activations.

For more information about Gridiron Gaming Group, please visit www.GridironGamingGroup.com and follow on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/GridironGamingGroup.