Comicpalooza Scores ESPN’s First Ever Collegiate Esports Championship

HOUSTON, TX  — Comicpalooza is bound to be a slam dunk this year with the addition of ESPN’s first-ever Collegiate Esports Championship (CEC) which will make its debut in Houston during the three-day pop culture festival.

Hundreds of schools from across North America have competed in qualifiers hosted by Tespa and Collegiate StarLeague (CSL) for the chance to compete in the live LAN (local area network) semi-final and championship at Comicpalooza.  During the inaugural event, esports fanatics will have the opportunity to root for their favorites in Overwatch, Street Fighter™ V: Arcade Edition, Hearthstone, StarCraft II and Heroes of the Storm. Not to mention, the CEC is now Overwatch’s only collegiate championship, previously held at the Fiesta Bowl. Attendees that have the Gaming Speed Pass receive added benefits such as reserved seating in the CEC arena, access to a private lounge, and opportunities to meet CEC esports talent.

Finalists will compete for prizing in the form of scholarships, and the LAN Championship, hosted by streamers Golden Boy and Anna Prosser, will be streamed globally on the ESPN Esports’ Twitch channel.  More information on the CEC can be found at www.espnevents.com.

“We are honored ESPN has chosen Houston and Comicpalooza for their inaugural Collegiate Esports Championship,” said Michael Heckman, Comicpalooza President and Senior Vice President at Houston First. “Each year we strive to provide unique experiences for our different pop culture fandoms. Esports is undoubtedly popular and expanding. Teaming up with ESPN to bring the CEC here allows us to engage our audiences in a completely new, exciting way.”

Comicpalooza will return to the George R. Brown Convention Center for its 11^th season on Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 12.  For the most-up-to-date information, including a complete lineup of special guests, admission prices and schedules, visit www.comicpalooza.com.

About Comicpalooza

Comicpalooza is a unique, multi-format pop culture event happening May 10-12, 2019 featuring more than 1,000 hours of diverse, interactive programming that spans across Comic Books, Gaming, Films, Anime, Cosplay, Literature, Maker’s Space, Education, Children’s Programming and Entertainment.

Twitter: @comicpalooza | Instagram: @houstoncomicpalooza | Facebook: @comicpalooza