Growing esports franchise Valhallan has announced the merger of the recently acquired United Federation of Esports Athletes (UFEA) league and the North American Esports League (NAEL) to create the Valhallan Esports League (VHEL). The new league is starting strong with the announcement of Rise to Ragnarok, a free competition taking place between 14th-15th January, the first of what will be a series of events.
The Rise to Ragnarok competition will be the inaugural event held by the VHEL, bringing coached youth teams from the UK, the US and all over the globe to compete against top teams in their peer groups in premier games such as Fortnite, Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends. Teams will be split into skill-based divisions to ensure tournaments are competitive and fair for all.
“Organised, live competition creates an engaging esports experience that gives kids the same social benefits traditional team sports provide,” said Christopher Baarstad, Vice President of VHEL Tournament Operations and former League Director of the UFEA. “Launching the VHEL with this free Ragnarok series event gives young gamers a platform to expand communication, teamwork and good sportsmanship. These are all examples of essential social skills kids learn from practising and playing traditional team sports.”
The creation of the VHEL, which follows several strategic acquisitions by Valhallan, will bring new resources, business opportunities and growth to the organisation. This includes increased access to representation in university esports, the ability to run large-scale events often and the chance to bring on more extensive support staff. The VHEL is open to all youth-coached esports teams, regardless of where they are located and whether or not they are connected to a scholastic organisation. Gamers and parents can expect more consistent competition opportunities and will see the level of competition increase as the VHEL continues to grow.
“The merging of the NAEL and UFEA into the new VHEL opens many opportunities not only for our youth but also for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to jump into an ever-growing esports industry,” said Matt Phillips, Brand President of Valhallan. “The merging of the leagues, and the events it will sponsor, gives existing and potential future Valhallan franchise owners a unique advantage for scaling their business in a high-demand market while they create a fun and safe environment where kids can learn as they participate in an activity they enjoy.”
From now until 13th January, coach-led teams can register for the event for free or with a donation to Autism Speaks, a charity Valhallan has aligned with to continue making the esports community more inclusive.
More information about Rise to Ragnarok, Valhallan and its development in the UK, can be found on the Valhallan website.
