Blue Star fronts costs to bring major esports competition to Frisco

Frisco will host a major esports championship series in April with some help from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ Blue Star Frisco Events.

Frisco City Council authorized an agreement to reimburse Blue Star Frisco Events $244,499 for costs related to the League of Legends 2020 League Championship Series Spring Finals. The event is set for April 18-19 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.

“Blue Star has offered to advance us the funds necessary for the event to go on, and then we will apply for reimbursement to the state,” Deputy City Manager Henry J. Hill said. “Then when the reimbursement comes back, we would reimburse Blue Star.”

In a press release announcing the LCS Spring Finals would be held in Frisco, esports tournament organizer Riot Games said more than 600,000 viewers watched the LCS Summer Finals in August.

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Frisco in bringing one of the largest esports events in North America to Ford Center,” said Stephen Jones, Dallas Cowboys chief operating officer, in a press release. “As the esports industry continues to grow, including here onsite with Complexity Gaming, we will continue to create and host one-of-a-kind experiences for fans all over.”

The reimbursement agreement was initially on the council’s Feb. 4 agenda as a $250,000 reimbursement, but city staff requested it be tabled so changes could be made.

Editor's note: This article's headline has been updated to clarify the financing agreement.