Sixteen top agency squads sign on for videogame football tournament
11/03/05 Footballers from top London media agencies – including Carat, Mediacom and Universal McCann are amongst sixteen squads who have signed on to compete in Future Publishing’s annual ‘Future Agency Cup.’
The eagerly anticipated event will see teams battling it out in the inter-agency tournament, where fierce rivalries will be fought out on the football pitch in a series of ten minute matches. Forgoing hours at the gym or a ban on takeaways – all squads need to do in order to reach match fitness is improve their videogame playing technique. The tournament revolves around the popular game, Pro Evolution Soccer 4.
Taking place on Wednesday, 30th March at AKA in London’s West End, the competing squads will be vying for the crown of “ultimate agency squad”, with only one team walking away from the evening with the agency cup – following on from last year’s winner, Euston Digital.
Insider insiders report that whilst hours spent in the office are up, productivity is down as teams prepare. The keenest agencies are said to be holding regular Pro Evolution Soccer strategy meetings and lunchtime trials on the game. Pods delivered to agencies by game developer Konami which feature a monitor; console and game have also become the office focal point for agencies across the capital.
Maintaining law and order at the event is respected sports presenter, Matt Lorenzo. The Sky Sports veteran will be on hand to ensure that the referee’s decision is final and to provide the teams with regular updates on England’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan, which will be shown live at the event.
Future’s London Ad Sales Director, David Fernando says:
“The tournament was so popular last year that we knew we had to run it again. It’s great to see that so many agencies have been so keen to get involved in the good natured spirit of the event. I’m delighted to have Matt Lorenzo at the helm of this emotionally charged evening, which leaves me to prop up the bar and keep away from the blood, sweat and tears.
“The winning team will walk away with the agency cup. Agencies are not just playing for the free booze, it is all about pride and winning a fantastic trophy that brings respect and admiration from your rivals. Awarding the agency cup to the winners will be a proud moment for me, as an Arsenal fan this is the only trophy I’m likely to be seeing this year.”
The following agencies have confirmed they will each be entering a squad of 8 players into the annual Future Agency Cup:
Mediacom, Manning Gottilieb, Nipper, Carat, Zenith, Target NMI, MJ Media, OMD UK, Mindshare, Universal McCann, PHD, Media Planning Group, Starcom Mediavest, Media Edge CIA, Vizeum, Initiative.
ENDS
About Future
Future plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over 100 special-interest consumer magazines worldwide with strong portfolios in the computing, games, music, sports, motoring, crafts and leisure sectors. It is the sixth largest magazine publisher in the UK and last year was reported as being the fastest growing US magazine publisher at newsstand. Future employs 1,200 people in offices in the UK, US, Italy and France. Over 100 international editions of Future’s magazines are also published under licence in 30 other countries across the world. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).
