TL;DR
- FACEIT discontinues ECS tournament series after eight seasons to partner with B Site
- B Site represents North American response to ESL Pro Tour and BLAST Premier with $2M buy-in
- New league features team-owned structure and generous revenue sharing model
- Tournament calendar conflicts expected between new circuits and established leagues
- Strategic move addresses crowded CS:GO tournament space and competitive pressures
Industry reports confirm FACEIT’s strategic pivot away from operating its ECS tournament circuit, opting instead for a collaborative partnership with the emerging North American league known as B Site. This development signals a significant realignment in the competitive Counter-Strike ecosystem.
According to DBLTAP’s investigative reporting, FACEIT will cease production of its ECS tournament series, redirecting resources toward the B Site initiative. The ECS circuit previously served as the primary competitor to ESL’s Pro League, which has since been integrated into ESL’s comprehensive tournament framework called the ESL Pro Tour.
B Site emerges as North America’s strategic counter to both BLAST Premier and the ESL Pro Tour. Originally disclosed on December 18, this innovative league operates under team organization ownership, featuring what industry experts describe as exceptionally favorable revenue distribution mechanisms for participating players and franchises.
B Site and FACEIT partner to combat ESL, BLAST Premier
Multiple sources indicate B Site requires a substantial $2 million franchise entry fee. Cloud9 and Immortals Gaming Company, the corporate entity behind CS:GO squad MIBR, appear to be spearheading the B Site initiative. This announcement follows closely on the heels of the Counter-Strike Professional Player Association’s agreement to establish cooperative frameworks with ESL and its Pro Tour structure.
Both the B Site venture and BLAST Premier tournament circuits anticipate scheduling conflicts with dates reserved by ESL Pro League. This biannual competition brings together elite Counter-Strike squads worldwide, culminating in the prestigious EPL Finals. While B Site and EPL Season 11 schedules remain unconfirmed, BLAST Premier launches January 31, with ESL’s Pro League traditionally commencing in early April.
FACEIT’s decision to terminate ECS and align with B Site, while initially surprising, reflects limited strategic alternatives given current market conditions. BLAST Premier already boasts a complete roster of committed teams, while B Site reportedly secured participation from Cloud9, MIBR, Gen.G, MAD Lions, and Dignitas.
ECS scrapped by FACEIT after 8 Seasons
The ECS tournament series completed eight competitive seasons, with its final chapter concluding at the ECS Season 8 Finals that attracted more than 190,000 concurrent viewers at peak. Despite maintaining solid popularity within the CS:GO community, ECS consistently ranked second to ESL Pro League regarding both audience metrics and brand recognition.
Confronted with minimal operational flexibility in today’s saturated CS:GO competitive calendar and lacking distinctive incentives beyond those already offered by rival tournament organizers, FACEIT appears to have strategically chosen collaboration with B Site as its optimal path forward.
Action Checklist
- Track B Site official schedule announcements and team confirmations
- Monitor ESL Pro Tour and BLAST Premier calendar updates for conflicts
- Analyze team participation patterns across different tournament circuits
- Evaluate viewership metrics for new tournament structures versus established circuits
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » FACEIT scraps ECS and partners with B Site, reports say FACEIT partners with B Site league to challenge ESL and BLAST Premier in competitive CS:GO landscape