Stake signs multi-year esports partnership with Team Vitality

Team Vitality announced a multi-year agreement with betting and gaming operator Stake. Through this partnership, Stake becomes the official international partner of Team Vitality's CS2 team, with the ambition of establishing a bigger presence in the esports ecosystem.

The two organisations will collaborate on exclusive content and activations. The first stop will be IEM Cologne, where the team will debut its new jersey featuring Stake's branding at one of the most iconic events in competitive Counter-Strike.

This alliance comes at a landmark moment for Team Vitality's Counter-Strike 2 roster, which has made history this year by winning multiple consecutive titles, including the ESL Grand Slam and Blast Austin Major last month. 

"Recognised as a global powerhouse in the CS2 scene, the team embodies a culture of bold ambition, elite performance, and the thrill of competition - values shared by Stake. This partnership brings together two brands that place intensity and excellence at the core of their identity," the operator stated.

Stake stated that it will play a key role in supporting the CS2 roster throughout prominent international competitions. First, the brand will be featured across Team Vitality CS's digital platforms. Second, the two brands will co-create premium content activations and provide fans with exclusive player access year-round. Lastly, Stake's logo will appear on the front and left collarbone of the team's official jersey.

As the reigning champions of last year's tournament, Team Vitality is launching this partnership at a pivotal moment in the competitive calendar. IEM Cologne is one of the most followed tournaments on the Counter-Strike circuit, with the 2024 edition attracting over one million viewers, making it the second most-watched CS event of the year.

"This event gathers a passionate global audience and provides a powerful platform to associate Stake with the highest level of competition and emotion. It is a strategic opportunity to activate the partnership during a peak moment of tension, spectacle, and performance - creating a strong, authentic connection between the brand, the team, and Vitality fans worldwide," the company added.

"This partnership with Stake is historic: not only for its scale but also for its symbolic value. It reflects the success of our ambition to establish Team Vitality as a leading global esports brand, alongside the biggest names in their respective industries," said Vas Roberts, co-CEO of Team Vitality.

"At a defining point in our Counter-Strike journey, this collaboration will allow us to create innovative experiences, offer exclusive content around our team, and support our CS2 roster as it reaches new competitive heights."

"This partnership brings together two industry powerhouses: Stake, a global leader in betting and entertainment, and Team Vitality, the reigning CS2 world champions," said Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer at Stake.

"This collaboration adds esports to our globally renowned portfolio of sports and entertainment partnerships, with Team Vitality representing exactly the caliber of world-class partner we seek as we enter the esports arena."