While the public is mainly concerned with titles in e-sports, the financial side also plays a major role for the teams. The so-called Louvre agreement is intended to give stability to the "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" scene.
The partnership was founded in February 2020 by ESL together with 13 counter-strike organizations at that time, with BIG another Canadian organization has now been included in the agreement.
Secure starting place in the ESL Pro League
While the teams invest an undisclosed sum, they receive a secure starting place in several ESL tournaments such as the Pro League, in the income of which they are also involved.
According to Ulrich Schulze, Vice President of products at ESL, not only financial aspects, but also the past and importance of the teams play a role in the selection. "We have now included organizations that have been represented and played in our tournaments for years," he says in an interview with the German Press Agency. "BIG has a strong focus on the German market - no other team has covered this so far.»
Selection process for CS:GO teams
The Berlin-based organization previously had to go through a selection process that took over half a year, according to BIG Managing Director Daniel Finkler. "But it was also necessary because the league wants to make sure that it ultimately only accepts teams that also provide you with added value, so that you have a successful league in the long term," he says in an interview with dpa.
The fixed starting positions are intended to ensure that the teams remain investors, sponsors and top players if success should fail. Without a safety mechanism, teams would have to make savings, says Finkler: "If we have a very good player with us who is under a long-term contract and suddenly is no longer satisfied because the team is not playing well, then another top club will come in no time and your player will change.»
Benefits for Louvre Agreement teams
Schulze emphasizes that the open qualification should remain an important part of the ESL Pro League despite the safe starting places for Louvre Agreement teams. Finkler and Schulze are not afraid that teams could rest in their places.
"In a sprint, the Louvre Agreement teams may now have a flying start compared to the other teams, but they still have to run. And if they don't run, they will definitely be overtaken," says Schulze.
