Why the KC Pioneers refuse to stay in their lane; esports league teams with Kansas Speedway for weekend event
September 9, 2023 | Taylor Wilmore
First they watched from stadium seats at the speedway, then from pit road. Now the fans-turned collaborators at the KC Pioneers are on track with one of their biggest partners to date: NASCAR.
Kansas City’s premiere esports league has teamed up with the Kansas Speedway to bring traditional racing and esports gaming into the same heat with the Stateline Showdown Series — a string of events aimed at invigorating two fan bases and creating new connections between generations of sports enthusiasts, said Sam Kulikov, co-founder of the Kansas City Pioneers.
Worldwide Express driver Carson Hocevar talks with professional eNASCAR driver Wyatt Tinsley of the KC Pioneers during a May event at the Kansas Speedway; photo courtesy of the KC Pioneers
“We’re looking forward to showcasing the intersection between esports and traditional sports and highlighting how both industries can learn from each other to drive innovation and growth,” Kulikov said.
The next leg of this shared journey: a free-to-enter Rocket League Tournament Sunday, Sept. 10 at Kansas Speedway, where competitors will face-off in the popular arcade-style multiplayer that combines soccer and driving games.
The event is inclusive, allowing streamers to join their iRacing teams for a chance to win a $2,000 cash prize, all while the NASCAR Cup Series race unfolds simultaneously at the Speedway, adding an extra layer of excitement, Kulikov said.
“If you’re a dad, and you like NASCAR, but your kid isn’t as interested, you can say, ‘Hey, there’s also a Rocket League Tournament for you to join,’” he added.
Click here for event ticketing information.
As with a similar partnership at the speedway in May, Sunday’s event is set to feature appearances by professional eNASCAR drivers Wyatt Tinsley and Derek Justis from the KC Pioneers.
The Kansas City Pioneers — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023 — turned the ignition on recent momentum by creating content and experiences that blended traditional sports with gaming, Kulikov detailed. As they delved deeper into that realm, they saw the chance to revitalize fan communities of sports like NASCAR, and form partnerships with Sporting KC and even recruiting players from the Kansas City Chiefs.
“We’ve noticed that traditional athletes have an opportunity through gaming to engage their fans on a deeper level,” said Kulikov. “So, instead of just being a number on the field with a helmet on, you can be a streamer and you can connect with your fans through that.”
The climax of this strategy happens when NASCAR drivers come to Kansas City for the event, he added.
They won’t just race; they’ll also compete in the Rocket League Tournament, Kulikov said, reflecting a synergy between traditional sports and gaming, where Rocket League even features NASCAR cars — blurring the lines between mediums and offering a unique and engaging experience for fans.
Click here to purchase discounted tickets for the NASCAR cup series race.
Gamers compete during a May KC Pioneers event at the Kansas Speedway; photo courtesy of the KC Pioneers
Bringing KC gaming to the national stage
KC Pioneers’ partnership with NASCAR, the Kansas Speedway, and the Army National Guard for this event is just one example of how the Pioneers are collaborating with major brands and organizations to leverage gaming effectively, Kulikov added.
Other significant partners like QuickTrip and Price Chopper are also joining the ranks, he said.
“These high level tournaments and partnerships furthers the brand of uniting the Kansas City community,” Kulikov said. “We want people to realize that we’re fighting for the city to win championships, and we’re fighting for our esports community to gain more support, because our region still doesn’t understand the opportunities gaming can bring.”
Click here to follow the KC Pioneers on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
KC Pioneers’ mission involves tackling three crucial challenges: awareness, access, and talent development, he said.
“We have to beat the awareness problem first, because some parents are against [what they think is just video games], and some kids don’t know esports exists,” Kulikov said.
An academy team to provide access and autonomy to aspiring gamers is in the works, he added, a development that would give young players the resources and opportunities to make their own choices and shape their future.
“Some of the best gamers in the world come from Kansas City, and a lot of people don’t know that yet,” Kulikov said.
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
New Kauffman CEO begins her ‘journey of impact’ with renewed focus on Kansas City
Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial supporter of Startland News. Work within Kansas City to inspire education and entrepreneurship has a ripple effect across the region, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace; and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is doubling down on its commitment to the Kansas City community under her new leadership. …
This one-day competition builds more than apps, organizers say; Hack Midwest aims to reveal what humans are capable of creating
Kansas City’s largest app building competition is set to return in September — with more than 300 software engineers competing in teams for a piece of $22,500 in winnings. Hack Midwest, which began in 2012, brings together developers for a 24-hour “hackathon,” during which the teams race against the clock — and each other — to…
Island vibes getaway: ‘Lei Away’ festival to showcase tropical flavors in landlocked KC
Kansas Citians won’t have to leave the city to enjoy a tropical escape during Labor Day weekend. The freshly announced Lei Away festival is expected to bring the spirit of the islands to the plains. “We are highlighting all the wonderful things that are tropical-centric in Kansas City, which is ironic because it’s so landlocked,”…
In second term, Mayor Q says he’ll help get City Hall out of entrepreneurs’ way as they build a more diverse economy
Creating economic equity in Kansas City goes hand in hand with building a sustainable city, said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “We will not be the city that we need to be — we won’t have the workforce, the entrepreneurs that we need — if we’re not actually investing in equitable tools in any number of ways,”…