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Washington Justice Announces Events DC As First 2019 Season SponsorWASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Esports Ventures, led by businessman, investor, and entrepreneur Mark Ein, today announced Events DC, the District's official convention and sports authority, as Washington Justice's signature sponsor for the team's inaugural Overwatch season.
"Washingtonians are excited to cheer on the Washington Justice during their inaugural season and we are looking forward to welcoming the team home next year," said Mayor Bowser. "With the help of Events DC, we are once again showing why Washington, DC is both the sports capital and the capital of inclusive innovation." "We are proud to welcome Events DC as a founding partner of the Washington Justice," said Mr. Ein. "Events DC has been at the forefront of the esports revolution and their support was critical to bringing the team to our community." As a part of the agreement, Events DC will be the exclusive patch sponsor on the front of the player jerseys. Throughout the season, their partnership will also provide live event experiences, content and access to the greater DC region's Overwatch community and beyond. Washington Esports Ventures and Events DC together will bring local Washington, DC-based fans live watch party experiences to interact and cheer on the Washington Justice team together. The team's inaugural season will be played at Blizzard Arena in Burbank, CA, and in the future will play at home in a venue location in Washington, DC. "As the official convention and sports authority for Washington, DC, we couldn't be more excited to sponsor DC's Overwatch team, Washington Justice. This partnership is a natural fit for us, as a part of the city's greater vision to position the District as an esports capital," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC. "DC's first Overwatch team is a prime example of our strategic efforts with our partners across the city to grow and reinforce our commitment to DC's esports market and exploding fanbase. We look forward to growing our partnership and bringing even more esports live event experiences to the District. Best of luck to the Washington Justice, as they get ready to kick off their inaugural season." Over the past three years, Events DC has made a strategic long-term investment in the esports industry in an effort to growing the local esports landscape and its ecosystem within the nation's capital. Washington, DC, joined the Overwatch League's global, city-based league as one of eight new expansion franchises following a widely-successful inaugural season. For more information about Washington Justice, visit washington-justice.com or follow the team on Twitter @WashJustice, Instagram @WashingtonDCJustice or like Washington Justice on Facebook at Facebook.com/WashJustice. The 2019 Overwatch League season kicks off February 14, 2019. For more informationon the Overwatch League, visit overwatchleague.com. About Washington Esports Ventures Washington Esports Ventures was founded to purchase an Overwatch League Team and build other esports teams that will represent the thriving Capital Region incorporating all of Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia—from Baltimore to Richmond. The Company is led by Mark Ein, a Washington-area businessman, civic leader, philanthropist, sports team owner, and native Washingtonian. Mark and his ownership group believe in the power of sports as a platform to inspire people and bring communities together. The Company's esports assets, including the Overwatch League team, will be part of Mr. Ein's existing sports platform that owns the Washington Kastles, one of the most successful teams in the 45-year history of World TeamTennis, embraced by the Capital Region since its founding in 2008. Joining Mr. Ein as investors and board members are Artist Capital Management, a New York-based growth equity firm as the lead financial partner and Dyson Dryden, Mr. Ein's business partner and a Baltimore native. Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, is an anchor supporter of the team. Additional investors and corporate sponsors will be announced soon. About Mark Ein Mark D. Ein is the founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Venturehouse Group, LLC and Capitol Investment Corp IV. He is an investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who has created, acquired, invested in, and built a series of growth companies across a diverse set of industries over the course of his 25-year career. During this time, Mr. Ein has been involved in the founding or early stages of six companies that have been worth over one billion dollars and has led over $1.5 billion of private equity, venture capital, and public company investments. Among the current majority-owned companies in the portfolios are Kastle Systems, LLC, the country's leading provider of building and office security systems acquired in January 2007. Mr. Ein currently serves as Chairman of the Boards of Kastle, Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., Capitol Investment Corp IV, VSGi, Inc., and is Vice-Chairman of the Board of Cision Ltd. and Soho House UK Ltd. Mr. Ein, a native of the Washington area, is also the founder and owner of the Washington Kastles World TeamTennis (WTT) franchise that has won the league championship six of its eleven years since its founding. The Kastles also set the record for the longest winning streak in US pro team sports history, winning 34 straight matches from 2011 through 2013. A native of the Washington area, he actively supports many community, charitable and cultural organizations and currently serves on the boards of the DC Public Education Fund (as Chairman since 2010, the Fund has raised $120 million of philanthropic support for DC Public Schools), the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, International Tennis Hall of Fame, DC College Access Program (DC-CAP), and DC Policy Center (Co-Founder). He is also a Presidential Appointee to the board of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) (where he previously served for two terms as a member at large and then a term as Vice President of the Board). He has won numerous awards including the Washington Business Hall of Fame 2018 Laureates Award, Washington DC Business Leader of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Award (the nation's highest honor for public service), Washington Business Journal Top Corporation for Philanthropy (Small Companies), Washington Business Journal Power 100, Entrepreneur of the Year Awards from Ernst and Young and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). In September 2009, Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty presented Mr. Ein with the Key to the City, highlighting not only his Washington Kastles success on the court, "but for their commitment to the District's communities and our youth." Prior to starting his firm, Mr. Ein worked for The Carlyle Group, Brentwood Associates and Goldman Sachs. He received his BS in Economics with a concentration in finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from The Harvard Business School. For more about Mr. Ein, visit www.capinvestment.com. OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE, BLIZZARD, and BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. About Events DC Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation's capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that hosts more than 1.7 million visitors and generates more than $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the RFK Stadium-Armory Campus (RFK Campus), including Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Campus, the non-military functions of the DC Armory and the Skate Park at RFK Stadium. Stay current on the 190-acre RFK Campus Redevelopment Project at www.RFKCampus.com. Events DC also built and serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. Events DC manages Gateway DC, R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and the Entertainment and Sports Arena (www.ESAontheRise.com), all conveniently located in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com and find us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube (Events DC), and Twitter (@TheEventsDC). CONTACT: Ashley Forrester, 202-439-7109, [email protected]
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