Tag: KC Pioneers

Exporting KC to the world: Esports leader revs come-from-behind global takeover amid World Cup’s big draw

By Tommy Felts / December 6, 2025

As the metro bundled up and showed out Friday, getting its latest taste of what the 2026 World Cup has in store, the Kansas City Pioneers dropped new heat — raising the thermostat on their commitment to seize the moment brought forth by the global gathering as a net for esports.  “Now is the time for…

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Jeremy Terman turned a likely ‘no’ into a tech career; his advice: Don’t wait for permission to start

By Tommy Felts / October 15, 2024

The biggest risks are in doing nothing, said Jeremy Terman, encouraging entrepreneurship students at UMKC to take the plunge — even if at times the world might be telling them they aren’t ready. “You don’t have to be in a box. You don’t have to listen to what the rules are,” said Terman, an investor…

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KC Pioneers scored Kansas City a spot on the ‘gaming wave’; why this pro esports teams views its hometown as a championship asset

By Tommy Felts / September 27, 2024

In the globe-spanning esports market, most of the top competitive gaming teams keep their hometown — if they have one — ambiguous to the public. With the industry expected to touch 1 billion people worldwide by 2029 and players untethered to physical locations, it’s simply an unimportant biographical detail to many. And potentially limiting for others.…

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Why the KC Pioneers refuse to stay in their lane; esports league teams with Kansas Speedway for weekend event

By Tommy Felts / September 9, 2023

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…

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Esports league brings new Midwest Fest event to KC, launching new Army National Guard partnership

By Tommy Felts / June 15, 2023

Gamers and esports enthusiasts around the Midwest are invited to congregate, connect and create at the first annual Midwest Fest. Midwest Fest, organized by the Kansas City Pioneers and LEVELUP Arena, is a gaming and streaming convention featuring multi-title gaming tournaments for amateurs, opportunities to meet with popular creators, workshops and giveaways. The event is…

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