CHARLOTTE, N.C. (November 17, 2020) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation’s oldest historically black athletic conference, has partnered with esports league provider PlayVS, a leader in the scholastic esports industry, to offer competitive gaming opportunities for its 12 member institutions.
PlayVS will serve as the conference’s official esports provider for select gaming titles, such as Fortnite, Rocket League, and League of Legends, and will begin offering competitive gaming seasons this fall.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with PlayVS, who has committed to creating opportunities for exposure while providing resources and access within the esports industry for our students, membership and the HBCU community,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “The move into esports aligns with the educational experience in STEM and overall strategic plan that remains consistent with efforts to continuously grow our brand and advance our students.”
PlayVS will provide participating CIAA schools access to esports gaming events and leagues, including a newly launched HBCU Esports League, that offer students an opportunity to compete for championships as well as earn scholarship money and merchandise. Additionally, the CIAA will collaborate with PlayVS on educational and career initiatives, for its students, within the esports and gaming industry.
“PlayVS is excited to be partnering with CIAA during this pivotal moment,“ said PlayVS CEO and Founder Delane Parnell. “We’re committed to leaning on one of our core principles and going all-in on cultivating the HBCU esports ecosystem that focuses not only on scholastic league-based competition, but also on building a solid foundation for their future careers, all while developing a sense of community.”
The partnership with PlayVS is the initial step for the CIAA towards launching its own conference league within the esports ecosystem.
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About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrated the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament – an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. Chowan University is an associate member in football and women’s bowling. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About PlayVS
PlayVS is the leading amateur esports platform in the United States. It is the single community where players come together to compete, fans gather to spectate and coaches manage their programs. PlayVS College offers both Conference and National League-based competition with titles such as Fortnite, Rocket League and League of Legends. Through strategic partnerships with the NFHS and state associations, the PlayVS High School product allows students to compete for a state championship. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company has raised more than $96 million since its founding in January 2018. For more information about PlayVS & PlayVS College, visit www.playvs.com/college
