T1 Betting Big on Their Esports Future with Faker

As a seasoned gamer who’s witnessed the meteoric rise of esports over the past few years, I can confidently say that T1’s 20-year journey is nothing short of inspiring. The brand has become a beacon of success and innovation in the industry, much like how my old CRT TV was once the centerpiece of my childhood gaming setup.

In the past twenty years, T1 has marked its milestone as a distinguished esports organization, reflecting on two decades filled with triumphs. Over an extended period, T1 has risen to prominence within the industry, showcasing monumental victories worth millions, star-studded players, and symbols that countless fans wear with pride.

At the ESI Lisbon event, the CEO and COO of Team One appeared on stage to reminisce about the past 20 years and then shift their discussion towards the future plans for this renowned organization.

It seems that the company’s leadership team is going all in with Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok.

‘It’s Here to Stay’

At ESI Lisbon, Joe Marsh, CEO of T1, and Josh Ahn, the firm’s COO, shared insights during a presentation that highlighted T1’s achievements over the past two decades. Marsh expressed confident predictions about the future direction of the esports industry, an area where T1 has been actively making strides for quite some time.

Esports is the new version of sports for the younger generation, and it’s here to stay.

The pair revealed that in the past five years, they’ve increased T1’s revenue by 3300%, even during COVID-19, which saw many organisations face a massive downturn. From a business perspective, Ahn revealed that T1’s merchandise sales are posed to overtake the revenue earned from sponsorships for the first time, which is a huge deal.

Generally, the bulk of earnings in the esports field comes from advertising and sponsorship deals. This underscores the strength and appeal of the T1 brand, as well as the high demand for the product, especially in South Korea.

Later, Ahn made it clear that they are investing more resources in ‘Faker’. Faker, a legendary figure in the esports world, has been hailed as the Greatest of All Time by countless fans. He’s a globally recognized competitor whose passion is both intense and inspiring.

We want to make something similar to the Jordan brand but with Faker.

Ahn spoke about the highly successful collaboration between Michael Jordan and Nike, dating back to 1984. This partnership has generated nearly $7 billion for Nike.

It’s challenging for Faker-endorsed products to reach such great heights, but another brand should achieve similar success, taking into account the expanding market that is esports. He is one of the most valued and legendary competitors in the industry, so if anyone can pull it off, it’s him.

T1 recently landed in the top spot at the inaugural Esports World Cup, a win that came months after a victory at the League of Legends World Championship. The team is now preparing to go back-to-back at this year’s LoL Worlds, which starts tomorrow.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam.