The Esports Observer has obtained a letter sent to Psyonix on behalf of 13 Rocket League Championships Series (RLCS) teams seeking to address a list of grievances regarding the handling and administrative practices surrounding the RLCS.
The letter sent to the RLCS today was signed by representatives from BDS, Endpoint, eUnited, G2 Esports, mousesports, NRG Esports, Pittsburgh Knights, Renault Vitality, Rogue, Singularity, Spacestation Gaming, Susquehanna Soniqs, and Veloce Esports.
According to the letter, teams are voicing their concerns about what they view as a lack of communication between the league and themselves, conditions surrounding slot ownership, prize money distribution, and monetization of the league for the publisher and teams.
The letter goes on to recommend fixes to a perceived “lack of communication” that include, publisher/league bi-weekly calls with team owners and associated personnel to cover schedule updates, partnership opportunities, marketing opportunities, and content tie-ins to team initiatives.
Additionally, concerns regarding the scheduling of the league in terms of dates and times were addressed in the letter: “We also ask that season schedules and upcoming events be shared well in advance so as to allow us to plan and market accordingly.”
Sources close to the league note that Infrequent communication and long response times to questions have hurt the teams’ ability to properly market their franchises.
The missive goes on to explain that teams in the RLCS slots are owned by the individual players of each team as a collective. While the organization they represent facilitates the needs of the team including salaries, acquiring sponsorships, and other logistical pursuits. According to the owners, this has hurt the organizations’ ability to manage player salaries, manage rosters, or have financial control and ownership over their investment.
Organization owners are asking that league slots transition, “…ownership to the teams, who are the primary caretakers and drivers of player’s health/well-being/growth/financial wherewithal. Ownership of the league spots resting with the teams would allow us to manage player salaries, manage our rosters, and have financial control and ownership over our investment.”
As it stands, organizations pay out of pocket for salaries and other expenses, with some rosters costing upwards of $40K (USD) per month. Additionally, the status quo on prize pool distribution between players and the organizations they represent can often see a 90/10 split that favors the players.
RLCS teams are not given direct monetary compensation from the league and must rely on other methods in order to create revenue. However, among those different revenue streams is the league-facilitated Esports Shop where different cosmetic skin pieces for the in-game cars can be purchased. A portion of those sales are shared with teams that have skins available in the online store, however, there appears to be a trend where new teams have to wait a season before this monetization avenue opens up. Teams do not receive terms prior to teams entering the league.
Teams have asked to meet with league representatives to talk about consistent in-game item availability, sales plans, and the esports shop.
While Rocket League Championship Series teams seem to be (mostly) in agreement that Psyonix needs to make some serious changes, it is unclear what the next move will be for these teams if their concerns are not addressed.
The Esports Observer has reached out to Psyonix and teams for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.
