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NASL Prize Pool?

Blogs > SlipperySnake
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SlipperySnake
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
248 Posts
May 17 2011 22:30 GMT
#1
I just wanted to kind of gauge how other people feel about the NASL prize pool. From what has been announced the total for all three seasons is 400k with 100k in the first two seasons and 200k in the last. As a subscriber and huge fan I still find myself wondering, where is it all going to come from?

Now I know it has been asked before many times but I still haven't been able to find a satisfactory answer either by searching TL or going through the NASL website. Their stock answer seems to be this:

Sponsors?: We're sponsored by pennies we picked up in the various ponds and fountains around the world. The money is there and ready to be given out to some amazing players!


Which leads me to believe they are hoping for sponsors along the way, they haven't serious thought about the payout yet because it is so far in the future, or the money is coming from a private donor. Out of the three options I have thought of, the only one that really makes sense to me is a private donor. This would explain the lack of transparency in this one issue because the donor might want to be anonymous or unknown for future sponsor support. Either way it just seems like explaining this to a gaming community who has had many bad experiences in the past would be beneficial.

I just want to continue by addressing another argument that I heard from Incontrol when he was asked this question on SOTG (Disclaimer, I know Incontrol isn't the end all be all for the NASL but he has become a huge representative so his opinion on the matter is valid). Basically he asked in return why so many people cared and then went on to say people shouldn't care where the money comes from and just be happy they get this great league. To which I would like to say, we care because there is a long history in esports of new start up organizations bullshitting about prize pools and dicking players over. We care because it matters to us that a league is legitimate and when a new start up comes out we don't just want to have to rely on people's words. This simply isn't the time for naivety to become the moral high ground.

I hope that I am wrong and I am missing an important piece of news confirming the prize pool aside from the league's word. Though as someone who watches religiously and paid to support this league I would like to be sure it is legitimate as well. Let me know if you have any alternate theories on where the money might be coming from and how you feel about it. I just wanted to bring this back up because with all the other criticism about the NASL overhype this seems to have fallen by the wayside. Thanks.

****
Djzapz
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada10681 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 22:39:15
May 17 2011 22:38 GMT
#2
It's definitely weird. I'd like to know where 400k comes from!
"My incompetence with power tools had been increasing exponentially over the course of 20 years spent inhaling experimental oven cleaners"
IntoTheWow
Profile Blog Joined May 2004
is awesome32274 Posts
May 17 2011 22:40 GMT
#3
What are you talking about King Ansadi's tournament went perfectly well.
Moderator<:3-/-<
Xeris
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
Iran17695 Posts
May 17 2011 22:40 GMT
#4
We have the money to pay out the prize pool. We don't have "sponsors" like Intel or anything. If we get anything like that, the community will be the first to know :D
twitter.com/xerislight -- follow me~~
ShoCkeyy
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
7815 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 22:44:01
May 17 2011 22:43 GMT
#5
I feel like the money is coming from a single donor. I mean come on, have you seen the production for NASL? It has to be a person donating the money. I feel like this person would rather not be mentioned for his sake. Maybe he runs a huge business that really can't be seen dealing with the E-Sports scene? Meaning if other clients of his see this, they might think he's a child and not want to do business with this said donor. This is my take on the NASL prize pool.
Life?
SlipperySnake
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
248 Posts
May 17 2011 22:45 GMT
#6
On May 18 2011 07:40 Xeris wrote:
We have the money to pay out the prize pool. We don't have "sponsors" like Intel or anything. If we get anything like that, the community will be the first to know :D


You have said this before but how can we be sure besides you assurances that you are telling the truth. I mean I really like you guys but that doesn't mean I abandon all logic and don't ask the questions.

Are you guys funding it out of pocket? Because 400k seems a little insane out of pocket for this sort of venture. When you say we have the money, who do you mean by we and where did you get it from? I know you guys have tried to be super responsive to the community but this is a pretty big deal.
Megaliskuu
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States5123 Posts
May 17 2011 22:47 GMT
#7
On May 18 2011 07:40 IntoTheWow wrote:
What are you talking about King Ansadi's tournament went perfectly well.


What Xeris doesn't want us to know is that the great king is sponsoring NASL. It all makes perfect sense, he did say he was going to return in the future with even greater tourneys.

OH MESSENGER WHERE HAVE YOU GONE
|BW>Everything|Add me on star2 KR server TheMuTaL.675 for practice games :)|NEX clan| https://www.dotabuff.com/players/183104694
infinity2k9
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United Kingdom2397 Posts
May 17 2011 22:47 GMT
#8
I'm afraid this has been asked many times before with no clear answer for no apparent reason unfortunately. I don't quite get why someone would give 400k to any eSports tournament and not even want any publicity or anything from it at all.
Snuggles
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1865 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 22:48:21
May 17 2011 22:48 GMT
#9
Alright guys lets work together to get to the bottom of this. We will uncover the truth!

Bring out the TL detectives~!
udgnim
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States8024 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 23:03:20
May 17 2011 22:56 GMT
#10
On May 18 2011 07:47 infinity2k9 wrote:
I'm afraid this has been asked many times before with no clear answer for no apparent reason unfortunately. I don't quite get why someone would give 400k to any eSports tournament and not even want any publicity or anything from it at all.


400K + costs for NASL team isn't much for a venture caplitalist

maybe there's some rich investor that likes e-sports and/or Starcraft and is willing to give out some money to see how well the NASL setup can grow or maybe the owners of gosucoaching did one hell of a job pitching NASL to venture capitalists

FX Open, a forex broker, has a SC2 team, and I can't imagine what value a forex broker gets out of being advertised through a SC2 team.

anyways, people with money see potential in things and are willing to give some out to see where that potential goes.

the objective is to gain a profit from the risk spent. e-peen doesn't translate to real life.
E-Sports is competitive video gaming with a spectator fan base. Do not take the word "Sports" literally.
MechaCthulhu
Profile Joined November 2010
United States136 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 23:02:07
May 17 2011 23:01 GMT
#11
Two words: angel investor.

On May 18 2011 07:47 infinity2k9 wrote:
I'm afraid this has been asked many times before with no clear answer for no apparent reason unfortunately. I don't quite get why someone would give 400k to any eSports tournament and not even want any publicity or anything from it at all.


If someone buys stock in a company, are they looking for "publicity" by doing so? I don't anyone "gave" money at all--they invested it, taking a risk on the chance that the NASL will take off, get sponsors and make back their initial investment many times over.
That which can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.
omgCRAZY
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada551 Posts
May 17 2011 23:03 GMT
#12
I seriously don't understand peoples fears if this. I would also be cautious around new startups but the people that have created and are working on this league are solid veteran community members that have shown time and time again that they are reliable and can be trusted, the Gosucoaching league being one example.

Some also might argue that they paid $25 to see this league and want to know it is legitimate but all you have paid for is the stream quality and VODs which we are receiving. The only people that should really worry is the players but like I have said, the league is backed by veteran members of the community and I can almost guarantee that all of them are not worried about the leagues money running dry.


They have assured us that the money is real and they have it. I would like to think we can give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

THIS NEEDS FACE!
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25980 Posts
May 17 2011 23:05 GMT
#13
On May 18 2011 08:01 MechaCthulhu wrote:
Two words: angel investor.

Show nested quote +
On May 18 2011 07:47 infinity2k9 wrote:
I'm afraid this has been asked many times before with no clear answer for no apparent reason unfortunately. I don't quite get why someone would give 400k to any eSports tournament and not even want any publicity or anything from it at all.


If someone buys stock in a company, are they looking for "publicity" by doing so? I don't anyone "gave" money at all--they invested it, taking a risk on the chance that the NASL will take off, get sponsors and make back their initial investment many times over.

I'm pretty sure it can be a write-off for a legitimate business also. Regardless, no one has any right to preemptively assume they're not going to pay. I appreciate that there is some precedent for payments not being made, but if they've said they're not going to announce it, what could you possibly expect to come from this thread?
Moderator
SlipperySnake
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
248 Posts
May 17 2011 23:08 GMT
#14
On May 18 2011 08:05 Chill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 18 2011 08:01 MechaCthulhu wrote:
Two words: angel investor.

On May 18 2011 07:47 infinity2k9 wrote:
I'm afraid this has been asked many times before with no clear answer for no apparent reason unfortunately. I don't quite get why someone would give 400k to any eSports tournament and not even want any publicity or anything from it at all.


If someone buys stock in a company, are they looking for "publicity" by doing so? I don't anyone "gave" money at all--they invested it, taking a risk on the chance that the NASL will take off, get sponsors and make back their initial investment many times over.

I'm pretty sure it can be a write-off for a legitimate business also. Regardless, no one has any right to preemptively assume they're not going to pay. I appreciate that there is some precedent for payments not being made, but if they've said they're not going to announce it, what could you possibly expect to come from this thread?


An answer why they won't announce it.... I thought it was obvious from the discussion. Or at least some more explanation other than "Trust us" or two bullshit sentences about how they have it.
Primadog
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States4411 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-17 23:42:27
May 17 2011 23:14 GMT
#15
First off: I am not a staff of NASL, just another enthusiastic customer. Everything below are purely speculation and conjunctures off based on my personal experience in the business world and a little reading between the line.


I can never figure out why so TL finds it so hard to grasp the very basic concept of creating and investing in a corporation whose product happen to be E-sports related. You'd think for a community whose sole existence is everything E-sports, delivering it as a product would be a simple business concept.

From what I can tell of the NASL official communications, NASL is a corporation started with venture capital, aka the man behind the mask is an angel investor, whom was sold of the concept of E-sport as a marketable and profitable product and willing to risk a large pile on money on it.

Somewhere in the nerfeous NASL studio, there was a man or men whom watched the success of GSL and thought: I can make money if I make a league like that in the States! He crunched his numbers, put together a business proposal, gather his industry contacts, and presented this business idea to people with fat wallets. These people, aka those that am willing to invest in Google or Facebook before they become big profitable giants that they are, went through the business proposal and agreed -- the business is viable, so took the leap of faith and dumped a million dollars (completely arbitrary, btw) on this idea.

Where did the money come from? The initial investor. If the business fail and NASL fails to make a profit, NASL will close doors in a year or two. If NASL become a massive success, the man with the idea and the angel investors are both going to become very, very rich. The money is there. THERE IS NO SCAM. THAT IS HOW INVESTMENT WORKS.

Why are there no sponsors? Quiet simply, sponsors do not like to put money into an unknown entity. That's why it took IM a whole year, after winning 4 GSLs, to finally find a sponsor. That's why MVP, fOu, PRIME still are paying their players na-da. Are sponsors needed for NASL? Depends on how the numbers are made in the business plan. If the HD pass sales and JTV ad revenue are sufficient to cover the expenses (which the prizepool is only a minor portion of), NASL can very well survive and thrive without a sponsor, ever.

Of course, it'll be nice if NASL does get some sponsors. Extra revenue stream is always welcome when you are steering a fledging business.

Primadog has a background in small business. You may remember a very strange stone-company that once sponsored the King of Beta Tournament/Day9 Launch Party.
Thank God and gunrun.
Hikari
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
1914 Posts
May 17 2011 23:25 GMT
#16
Tbh, even if the prize money is non-existant, the NASL has brought us extremely exciting games from star players on a regular basis - for that, I thank them (and the secret investor).

If this is indeed a farce it would definitely shine a negative light on the "foreign" esports scene - and possibly even a criminal offense. I am sure the police will get right onto.
Zim23
Profile Joined August 2010
United States1681 Posts
May 17 2011 23:30 GMT
#17
They don't owe you an answer. I don't get this sense of entitlement some people have. Come back and be outraged while making wild assumptions if they actually don't pay out.
Do an arranged marriage if she's not completely minging, and don't worry about dancing, get a go-kart, cheers.
SlipperySnake
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
248 Posts
May 17 2011 23:56 GMT
#18
+ Show Spoiler +
On May 18 2011 08:14 Primadog wrote:
First off: I am not a staff of NASL, just another enthusiastic customer. Everything below are purely speculation and conjunctures off based on my personal experience in the business world and a little reading between the line.


I can never figure out why so TL finds it so hard to grasp the very basic concept of creating and investing in a corporation whose product happen to be E-sports related. You'd think for a community whose sole existence is everything E-sports, delivering it as a product would be a simple business concept.

From what I can tell of the NASL official communications, NASL is a corporation started with venture capital, aka the man behind the mask is an angel investor, whom was sold of the concept of E-sport as a marketable and profitable product and willing to risk a large pile on money on it.

Somewhere in the nerfeous NASL studio, there was a man or men whom watched the success of GSL and thought: I can make money if I make a league like that in the States! He crunched his numbers, put together a business proposal, gather his industry contacts, and presented this business idea to people with fat wallets. These people, aka those that am willing to invest in Google or Facebook before they become big profitable giants that they are, went through the business proposal and agreed -- the business is viable, so took the leap of faith and dumped a million dollars (completely arbitrary, btw) on this idea.

Where did the money come from? The initial investor. If the business fail and NASL fails to make a profit, NASL will close doors in a year or two. If NASL become a massive success, the man with the idea and the angel investors are both going to become very, very rich. The money is there. THERE IS NO SCAM. THAT IS HOW INVESTMENT WORKS.

Why are there no sponsors? Quiet simply, sponsors do not like to put money into an unknown entity. That's why it took IM a whole year, after winning 4 GSLs, to finally find a sponsor. That's why MVP, fOu, PRIME still are paying their players na-da. Are sponsors needed for NASL? Depends on how the numbers are made in the business plan. If the HD pass sales and JTV ad revenue are sufficient to cover the expenses (which the prizepool is only a minor portion of), NASL can very well survive and thrive without a sponsor, ever.

Of course, it'll be nice if NASL does get some sponsors. Extra revenue stream is always nice in a business environment.

Primadog has a background in small business. You may remember a very strange stone-company that once sponsored the King of Beta Tournament/Day9 Launch Party.



I understand how an investment works but I just wish they would say that is what that is. I feel like if you are going to make a solid investment and you want it to succeed in a community with a history of league failure with evaporating prizes then it would make sense to put a name out there to build confidence.

Personally I don't think all investors insist on being faceless and nameless. This is a case where insisting on this anonymity is particularly damaging.
divito
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Canada1213 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-05-18 00:02:32
May 17 2011 23:57 GMT
#19
It could be a wealth of options, but the most likely option is that of the one mentioned by Primadog. Either those involved in NASL did the legwork and worked to accumulate the VC themselves through a company or single angel, or the members were approached by the aforementioned.

It's not completely unheard of for an individual angel or VC company to do the work themselves. A lot of due diligence, studies and reports get done for investments, and some companies are proactive in their approach. A friend of mine had his company approached by a VC firm for investment, on all the basis of them keeping their ear close to the ground and doing their research.
Skype: divito7
SlipperySnake
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
248 Posts
May 18 2011 00:01 GMT
#20
On May 18 2011 08:30 Zim23 wrote:
They don't owe you an answer. I don't get this sense of entitlement some people have. Come back and be outraged while making wild assumptions if they actually don't pay out.


You don't think people who invest in a league are entitled to verify that it is legit? I don't feel like I am asking for an arm and a leg especially when I a huge supporter. I just want a little more explanation for behavior that seems outside the norm when it comes to the running of tournaments.
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