Enter the Inferno: Las Vegas’ official esports team aims to win you over

It’s matchday Sunday and not a single Raiders jersey or Golden Knights flag in sight.

People of all ages flocked to Luxor’s HyperX Esports Arena to watch and participate in a regional tournament for the legendary fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In the 30,000 square meter arena, the voices of the commentators boom over the sound system, while 15-meter-long LED screens capture every punch, every kick and every near-death collision, while smash fans follow every movement.

Esports events like this make a gamer’s heart beat faster, and communities like this remind Jairo Urcuyo why he founded Las Vegas’ first official esports team in the first place.

“We [needed] something to support Vegas. There have been other teams here in the past, but there has never been a sense of family or community, ”says Urcuyo, who started the Las Vegas Inferno in January 2020. “[Past players cared so much] about championships and the next big thing in esports that they never drew to an official home and support for the local community. “

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Competition “/> Photo: employees

Inside the Luxor HyperX Esports Arena during the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competition

Urcuyo, whose résumé includes stints with the esports organizations Strictly Business and Denial Esports, wanted to change that even before Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman declared an inferno officer in June or called January 6 Las Vegas Inferno Day.

The team competes in online tournaments in the games of their choice, Rocket League, Fortnite and Halo, against opposing teams in the US and beyond. Prize pools can range from $ 9,000 to $ 200,000 depending on the event, Urcuyo says.

Inferno’s community engagement has led it to partner with local businesses, charities, and national nonprofits such as Susan G. Komen, the American Cancer Society, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The team is also an advocate of promoting and training young players. With the creation of the Ignition Initiative program, Inferno aims to teach young adults financial education and planning – and also how to lead a successful esports career.

Urcuyo hopes these efforts will leave a lasting impression on the city. “We want to grow as big as the Golden Knights, where we do more for the community, host events and give more back,” he says. “I have a feeling that we are going in the right direction.”

Since the Inferno started in 2020, it has grown to include a group of 54 people, but only a portion of them actually start their careers. “I don’t just want to be a competitive team,” says Urcuyo. “Esports has so many companies in one. You have content creation and streaming, merchandising, production, [and then] You have competitive teams. “

Think of it more as a “lifestyle brand,” he explains, “mixed with a sports brand, mixed with an esports brand”.

Based on this mindset, Urcuyo has also built relationships with sponsors and brand ambassadors such as Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Ramsey and professional mixed martial artist Erick “The Ghost Pepper” Gonzalez.

That’s the formula behind today’s successful esports lifestyle brands. Multi-million dollar collectives like 100 Thieves and FaZe Clan regularly compete against each other but build loyalty through bespoke merchandise, partnerships, video game streams, and well-produced YouTube videos.

It may seem counterintuitive to build an online follower before real life, but it has brought prominence to leading esports organizations in Vegas. The FaZe clan, for example, recently hosted a summer tip-off gaming event at Resorts World, complete with a headlining show by Grammy-nominated rapper Jack Harlow.

Briana Mercado and Victor Luu are two of the many content creators who represent the Las Vegas inferno. Mercado started streaming other activity, but followers quickly convinced them to switch to the gaming side. In her four years of streaming, she has gone from borrowing her brother’s gear to building a custom PC to play the competitive first-person shooter Call of Duty.

“Streaming is very therapeutic,” says Mercado. “There are so many people who have a bad day or have lost someone and they just want that smile. We bring that to you. When we have a bad day ourselves, we don’t get that going. We let them have a positive experience because there are so many negative things in the world. “

For Mercado, “streaming is not a job, it’s a lifestyle”. Luu adds: “I have all the support to keep it going.”

Esports is a billion dollar developing business. Leo Martinez, General Manager of Inferno, has seen the tide over the years, from failed companies to ambitious upstarters who get the industry going here. An official team offers more personal responsibility – and more pride within the community.

With that comes recognition, and, Martinez hopes, Vegas will become the esports city it has been aiming for for years. “We are here and we are here to stay,” he says. “Everyone will know our name.”

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