McDonald’s Named Presenting Sponsor – CECC

Activation includes promotions through McDonald’s App, sending an HBCU team to CECC, and custom McDonald’s branded jerseys

STAMFORD, CT (March 23, 2023) – Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) announces McDonald’s as the Presenting Sponsor and official Quick Service Restaurant for the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) Texas. The activation’s goal is to engage students and fans in-person and digitally to support the best competitive talent in college esports. CECC Texas is the largest collegiate esports festival in North America, taking place at Esports Stadium Arlington on May 5-7, 2023. The tournament will feature 64 teams from multiple conferences and associations to compete in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Overwatch 2®, Rocket League, and VALORANT during the “May Madness” of collegiate esports. Tickets are now on sale at LINK.

Highlights of the McDonald’s partnership include various promotions and giveaways through the McDonald’s App to reward new and current users. McDonald’s will also be sending a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) team to compete at CECC Texas, marking the first time an HBCU team has competed for a title at finals weekend. All competitors will wear McDonald’s branded jerseys during the tournament as they represent their school.

“We are thrilled to create a partnership between the world’s leading Quick Service Restaurant and the largest collegiate esports event ever,” said Jim Connelly, Chief Revenue Officer for CSMG/ESPORTSU. “Our gamers, social influencers, and engaged audience are a core demographic for McDonald’s, and we are excited to bring them all together during this event.”

“McDonald’s of North Texas is ready to feed hungry gamers and fans during the CECC tournament. When tournament play keeps you from dining out on your favorites, you can expedite an order through the McDonald’s App or let McDelivery bring your favorites to you,” said Tara O’Reilly Gibson, North Texas McDonald’s Owner/Operator. “We’re thrilled to have top collegiate esports talent come to North Texas and we will be there to keep them fueled.”

The “Road to CECC Texas” includes four regional qualifiers: the CECC South was held in Oct 2022 (virtually), the CECC East was held in Nov 2022 (in-person LAN event at Rutgers University), the CECC West was held on March 4-5, 2023 at Boise State University featuring an activation during the 2023 Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, presented by Idaho Central Credit Union, and the CECC Midwest on March 25-26 and the Last Chance Qualifier on April 1-2. Sixteen conferences are already confirmed to receive bids for the national event. Official seeding will be announced during the Seed Selection Show on May 2, 2023.

The weekend festival-like atmosphere is more than just a competition. The best esports athletes and fans will enjoy various activities, including a Vendor Village, Career Fair,, Partner Activations, Cosplay Costume Contests, Esports Celebrity Meet & Greets, and a Technology Expo. During CECC Texas, ESPORTSU will host the first live College Esports Awards Show, recognizing outstanding performance and leadership to selected coaches, players, programs, brands, and facilities. 

In November, the 2022 CECC won the “Best Collegiate/Amateur/Semi-Pro Event” category at the prestigious Tempest Awards during the Esports Business Summit. The Tempest Awards celebrates the future of esports by crowning excellence across 25 categories showcasing diversity and inclusion, social good/charity, mobile, fashion, technology, licensing, collegiate, brands, teams, events, and The Watch List.

Last year’s CECC was held at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta. More than 2,600 ticket holders celebrated Bay State College taking home the title in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Illinois State University leading the way in Overwatch (the Overwatch Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup), Northwood University taking home the gold in Rocket League, and San Jose State University making their shots count in VALORANT. Teams from multiple conferences, including ECAC, ECC, NECC, NJCAAE, and Peach Belt, participated in last year’s qualifiers that lead to the CECC Finals. 

About CSMG

CSMG is an integrated sports and entertainment media company focused on esports and traditional sports in the new creator economy. We are an experienced, trusted, results-driven team with a lens on what’s next. The focus of our business verticals – CSMG and ESPORTSU – is rooted in intellectual property rights management, acquisition, and development through media rights, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), valuation services, licensing, and sponsorship sales. We offer expertise in developing communities through brand building, original content, and event production & management. We drive our partners’ success at the crossroads of tech, sports, entertainment, and video games. To learn more, visit us at https://collegiatesmg.com/.

About McDonald’s of North Texas

McDonald’s of North Texas is a co-operative of local business owners who own and operate more than 350 McDonald’s restaurants in the Greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. McDonald’s of North Texas restaurants employ more than 17,500 people in the Greater Dallas, Fort Worth and Tyler community. Follow McDonald’s North Texas on Instagram @McDonaldsNorthTexas and Facebook @NorthTexasOperatorsAssociation.

ABOUT McDONALD’S USA

McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

Media Contact:  

CSMG@dkcnews.com