Who says the UK esports scene can’t get you places?
UK Overwatch champion Christopher “ChrisTFer” Graham previously won the ESL UK Premiership last year with Reason Gaming. Now he could soon be schmoozing with Hollywood celebrities.
ChrisTFer will be moving to the US, as the esports org he plays for prepares to rebrand.
Hammers Esports will now be known as Hollywood Hammers in a bid to to convert local celebrities into fans.
The org has partnered with TCL Chinese Theatres and their new home will be on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, which is near the world-famous stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Hollywood Hammers – which also have Vainglory and Clash Royale teams – announced that the organisation will be Los Angeles’ ‘home town team’.
They will develop a tournament schedule that will include events with local universities and gamers, and a new esports show called ‘Tournament Tuesday’ will be broadcast from a studio at TCL Chinese Theatres.
Michelle Slayton, host of the show, commented: “We want Los Angeles and the rest of the world to get to know our new teams as we cover events and competitive gaming.
“We are looking forward to celebrities becoming avid supporters of the Hollywood Hammers.”
“We are looking forward to celebrities becoming avid supporters of the Hollywood Hammers.”
Michelle Slayton, esports show presenter
The TCL Chinese Theatre is building a MediaMation MX4D Motion and EFX Esports Gaming Theatre. Audiences will experience tournament play with a wide range of 4D motion and special effects.
Hollywood Esports will be managing a network of these theatres across the country for tournament organisers and game publishers to use. Plans are also underway to build these theatres in China, linking this esports community into a ‘global network’.
Robert K. Laity, CEO of the TCL Chinese Theatre, said: “We are bringing to Los Angeles an exceptional esports franchise to become our local team.
“The esports world deserves a local fanbase in addition to a global following in much the same way that other sports like basketball, football and baseball have strong and close affiliations with fans in major cities across the US.
“Los Angeles now has its newest team to follow and support.”
King “KIMA” Perez De Tagle, founder and CEO of Hammers Esports, added: “The Hammers organisation looks to lead the trend of esports teams being more accessible and connected to local fans.”
Hollywood Esports will be hosting an After Party during E3 in Los Angeles to celebrate its launch. The event, planned for June 14th, will be held at the TCL Chinese Six Theatres and will be co-hosted by Soylent, DX Racer, MediaMation, Twitch and Super Evil Megacorp.
Just don’t forget us little people when you’re chilling with all your new celeb friends, Chris.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
