Partnership to focus on fan travel experiences for BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026
BLAST, one of the world’s leading esports entertainment companies, today announced a new strategic partnership with MATCH, a globally renowned leader in premium sports experiences with extensive expertise spanning product development, production, marketing, sales and customer service.
The one-year agreement will see MATCH work alongside BLAST to deliver premium fan travel experiences and commercial opportunities across BLAST’s global esports events portfolio, with an immediate focus on the upcoming BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
MATCH, and its associated group of companies, are internationally recognised for delivering world-class hospitality and accommodation programmes at some of the globe’s biggest and more commercially successful sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups™ between 2010 and 2022, multiple Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grand Prix and ATP tennis tournaments.
The partnership comes amid continued global growth and demand for elevated live esports events. In 2025 alone, BLAST delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five of the world’s leading esports titles, selling 194,421 tickets to fans worldwide as esports continues to establish itself as one of the fastest-growing sectors in live entertainment.
James Woollard, VP of Destinations and Market Development for BLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
Richard Parker, Director of UK Events and Business Strategy for MATCH, said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
Through the partnership, MATCH will bring its extensive global network of clients, sponsors, international sports federations, agents and media partners to BLAST events, helping expand international attendance, elevate fan experiences and further position esports within the premium live entertainment landscape.
The collaboration will also leverage MATCH’s proven technology, infrastructure and operational expertise that has supported some of the world’s largest sporting events, creating scalable fan travel solutions tailored for esports audiences and commercial partners.
MATCH’s integrated model combines rights-holder expertise with full-service delivery capabilities, enabling efficient setup, operational consistency and premium guest experiences across global events. The company’s proven international reach attracted attendees from more than 150 countries during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, demonstrating the scale and effectiveness of its worldwide hospitality and marketing network.
The partnership reinforces BLAST’s continued ambition to innovate and expand the esports event experience globally, creating new opportunities for fans, brands and commercial partners alike.
