KC Pioneers expands partnership with US Army National Guard for Stateline Showdown Esports Series

Kansas City-based esports organization, KC Pioneers, is expanding its partnership with the US Army National Guard to host a 12-event esports circuit named the Stateline Showdown Series.

This expansion will see collaborative events taking place throughout 2024 at various locations across the Midwest region of the United States, including the NASCAR race at Kansas City Speedway and the LEVELUP Arena gaming facility.

The Stateline Showdown Series aims to unite communities and provide a platform for amateur players to showcase their skills across titles such as Apex Legends, Rocket League, and Call of Duty. The full schedule for the series will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The partnership between KC Pioneers and the Army National Guard, initiated in June 2023, previously involved hosting six events to encourage community engagement and offer opportunities for amateur players to explore careers within the National Guard.

Despite criticism from some segments of the esports community regarding military sponsorships, the collaboration aims to further connect with gamers and promote community-driven initiatives.

With the expansion of the partnership, KC Pioneers now boasts a total of 11 partners on its roster, including Quiktrip, a convenience store company, and Logitech, a gaming peripherals manufacturer.

Mark Josey, CEO of KC Pioneers, emphasized the community-driven nature of the organization and expressed enthusiasm for expanding the offerings to gamers in collaboration with the states’ Army National Guard divisions, following the success of the first year of their partnership.