Kansas City Pioneers to Launch ESports Lounge at Boys & Girls Club
Local pro-gaming organization, the Kansas City Pioneers, is expanding its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Midwest with its new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCLK) to launch an esports lounge to connect local youth to the booming esports industry. The ribbon cutting for the BGCLK esports lounge is Thursday, October 26 at 5:30 pm.
The partnership includes year-round programming and the creation of a BGCLK Academy Team where esports enthusiasts will compete in Rocket League tournaments under the mentorship of a dedicated coach. This forward-thinking initiative is made possible through a partnership with LEVELUP Arena, who provided programming and technology consultations to ensure the seamless integration of esports into the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence community. This partnership also features the establishment of a groundbreaking Content Creation Mentorship Program to empower aspiring creators, and also the launch of Fall and Spring internships, offering hands-on experience in the Pioneers’ esports operations.
The collaboration emphasizes the Kansas City Pioneers’ commitment to educating and unifying youth in the midwest through esports, advocating for youth access to esports, and highlighting the Pioneers’ growing partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs in both Lawrence and Greater Kansas City. The Pioneers have been a community partner with the Boys & Girls Club for over three years, initially with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City (BGCGKC) – where they built the first Boys & Girls Clubs esports lounge in the country.
Jamel Malone has been an esports advocate and leader launching the initial relationship three years ago. Malone is currently a Director of Programs at BGCLK, following an eight-year career at BGCGKC. His vision to help empower kids through gaming has been a success which is now why the Boys & Girls Clubs are investing $50,000 into this effort. It is proven that esports is a conduit to workforce development and eliminating the generational wealth gap, two key efforts for the Lawrence Club.
“The Academy Team is the first of its kind in the US, and we’re proud to create that through our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lawrence,” said Lissa Leibson, Strategic Advisor, KC Pioneers. “As we continue to grow, we know there are others that want to grow with us and we are passionate about our midwest roots and look forward to partnering with the Boys & Girls Club and continuing to make an impact in the communities in which we serve.”
Rocket League is one of the most played esports in the world with over 94M monthly players. It is a popular esport that merges the heart-pounding excitement of high-speed racing with the finesse and tactics of soccer. Players pilot rocket-powered cars, engaging in gravity-defying aerial maneuvers and intense team-based battles as they strive to outwit their adversaries and net goals. With its combination of skill, cooperation, and exhilarating action, Rocket League has amassed a vast following and emerged as a worldwide esports sensation.
“In working with a second Boys & Girls Club organization, we’re underscoring the Pioneers’ commitment to connecting local youth to esports,” said Sam Kulikov, Chief Marketing Officer, KC Pioneers. “Gaming is changing the fabric of our culture, and our goal is to help kids understand that esports is a viable career path.Whether it’s becoming a pro gamer, content creator, designer, game developer, tournament organizer, or another opportunity that matches their skillset. We want to make sure that simply having access to esports isn’t a barrier to entry.”
The Esports Lounge launched at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year with the intent to expand Academy Team opportunities as the school year progresses. ______________________________
About Kansas City Pioneers
The Kansas City Pioneers is a lifestyle brand and gaming organization. Founded in 2019, the Pioneers compete in top tier esports at some of the highest levels in Rocket League and eNASCAR iRacing. For news and more information on Kansas City Pioneers, please visit www.kcp.gg or @pioneersgg on Twitter.