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Press release:
INDIANAPOLIS – Jan. 31, 2022
Indiana Esports Development LLC has today announced a partnership with the Horizon League, an NCAA Division I athletics conference, to bring The Esports Combine™ to their annual basketball championships held at the historic Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Event Center. The Esports Combine™ is the world’s premier collegiate recruiting event for esports athletes.

In addition to the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, this year’s championships will bring an esports component which will feature an NBA 2K showcase where the country’s best esports athletes can compete for college scholarships and a chance to get recruited by professional esports organizations.

The combine also features educational roundtables and industry-leading panel discussions by the brightest minds in the industry, facilitated by Indiana Esports Development LLC, a partnership formed between Harena Data Inc and the Indiana Sports Corp.

“We’re excited to have this esports event happening in conjunction with the Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships,” remarked Kelley Ford, Assistant Commissioner for Competition and Basketball Strategies.

“Our League seeks to be innovative and we view The Esports Combine™ as an opportunity to further cultivate our relationship with the Indiana Esports Development, LLC as they continue their efforts to make Indiana the premier esports hub.”

“We’re continuing our dedication to expanding Indianapolis esports by partnering with the Horizon League,” said Bill Dever, Chief Strategy Officer at Harena Data.

“We believe merging the worlds of traditional sports with esports will grow mainstream audiences while also expanding athletes into new areas of interest.”

Tickets for the 2022 Horizon League Basketball Championships taking place in Indianapolis March 7-8 at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum are now on sale. Tickets for the men’s and women’s semifinals and championship games are available for purchase at HorizonLeague.com/Indy, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or by calling the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office at 317-927-7601.

Registration for the combine is available at www.combine.gg. Registration to The Esports Combine™ includes a basketball ticket voucher to one of the League’s game sessions, redeemable at the box office.

#REACHtheHORIZON

ABOUT THE HORIZON LEAGUE

The Horizon League is an NCAA Division I athletics conference comprised of 12 member institutions located throughout the Midwest’s major metropolitan cities. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the League and its members strive to be highly competitive athletically while committing to the total development of its student-athletes and creating a lasting impact on campus and in the community. For more information, visit HorizonLeague.com

ABOUT INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS & EVENT CENTER

The Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center is a modern public event facility that annually hosts more than 400 meetings, shows, sports and agricultural events, including the Indiana State Fair.

The year-round management of the Fairgrounds is overseen by the Indiana State Fair Commission which is a quasi-governmental agency that was established in 1992, with the mission to preserve and enhance the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the annual Indiana State Fair for the benefit of all citizens of Indiana.

Located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum is a one-of-a-kind multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility and is home to more than 150 sporting and entertainment events each year.

With its history intact, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum underwent a $53 million renovation in 2012, modernizing the iconic Indianapolis venue, and paving the way for a new era of sports and entertainment. Indiana Farmers Coliseum is home to the ECHL’s Indy Fuel and the NCAA IUPUI Jaguars.

The Indiana Farmers Coliseum hosts over 150 events and over 1 million guests annually with events ranging from professional sports, live music, auto auctions, and special events. Additional information is available at www.indianastatefair.com.

About Indiana Sports Corp
Founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission, Indiana Sports Corp is a not-for-profit organization focused on bringing premier sporting events to Indiana to drive economic vitality, facilitate a vibrant community with civic pride and garner positive media attention.

Because of this, Indiana Sports Corp is able to provide positive, sports-related opportunities for youth in the community. For more information, please visit IndianaSportsCorp.org.

About Harena Data, Inc
Founded in 2017, Harena Data has developed GYO Score to be a data analytics, league development, and player management tool for the esports industry.

The principles of Harena Data have a strong background in esports, event management, motion picture production, and telecommunications. In addition to GYO Score, Harena Data specializes in esports consultation regarding the development and deployment of esports venues, scholastic esports programs, and esports league concepts.

Jonas “O.J” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround