Sponsorship

Term from Esports industry explained for recruiters

Sponsorship in esports refers to the business relationship where companies provide financial support, products, or services to gaming teams, players, or events in exchange for brand visibility and marketing opportunities. This is a key revenue source in the esports industry, similar to how traditional sports teams have sponsors on their jerseys or at their stadiums. Companies often sponsor teams or events to reach younger, tech-savvy audiences who are less accessible through traditional advertising.

Examples in Resumes

Secured $500,000 in Sponsorship deals for professional gaming team

Managed Sponsorships and brand partnerships for major esports tournament

Led Sponsor relations and partnership activation for gaming organization

Negotiated Sponsorship Deals with gaming hardware manufacturers

Typical job title: "Sponsorship Managers"

Also try searching for:

Partnership Manager Sponsorship Coordinator Brand Partnership Manager Sponsorship Director Business Development Manager Strategic Partnerships Manager

Where to Find Sponsorship Managers

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a sponsorship strategy for a major esports organization?

Expected Answer: Should discuss market research, identifying target sponsors, creating compelling pitch decks, understanding sponsor ROI expectations, and developing multi-year partnership strategies. Should mention experience with six or seven-figure deals.

Q: How do you measure sponsorship ROI in esports?

Expected Answer: Should explain different metrics like brand exposure, social media engagement, sales conversion tracking, and viewership analytics. Should mention experience with sponsorship reporting and analytics tools.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What elements should be included in a sponsorship proposal?

Expected Answer: Should mention audience demographics, reach statistics, proposed activation methods, pricing tiers, and deliverables. Should demonstrate understanding of both gaming and marketing perspectives.

Q: How do you maintain good relationships with sponsors?

Expected Answer: Should discuss regular communication, reporting, meeting deliverables, creating additional value, and resolving conflicts professionally. Should show experience in relationship management.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the different types of sponsorships in esports?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain jersey sponsorships, tournament naming rights, stream overlays, social media promotions, and product placement opportunities.

Q: How do you support sponsorship activation?

Expected Answer: Should describe coordinating social media posts, organizing product giveaways, ensuring logo placement, and helping with event activations.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of esports ecosystem
  • Sponsor coordination and support
  • Event activation assistance
  • Basic reporting and documentation

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Sponsorship proposal creation
  • Partnership management
  • Contract negotiation
  • ROI reporting and analysis

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic partnership development
  • Large-scale deal negotiation
  • Budget management
  • Team leadership and strategy planning

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of gaming or esports culture
  • Lack of experience in relationship management
  • Poor communication skills
  • No experience with sponsorship reporting or metrics