NBC Sports’ Universal Open Rocket League Will Be Streamed on Twitch, YouTube

NBC Sports has announced that Twitch and YouTube will provide live streaming coverage of Universal Open Rocket League — NBC Sports Group and FACEIT’s annual esports tournament — as gamers of all skill levels compete in a 2v2 Rocket League tournament for a $100,000 prize pool.

Twitch and YouTube will live stream nearly 100 hours of Universal Open Rocket League via Twitch and a newly-developed Universal Open YouTube Channel, including Regional Finals and Closed Qualifiers, culminating with the Grand Finals which will take place at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., on the weekend of August 24-26. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will also provide live streaming coverage of the Regional Finals and Grand Finals and will host all VOD content.

“Our goal with Universal Open Rocket League is to reach as many fans in the Rocket League and esports communities as possible,” says Rob Simmelkjaer, Senior Vice President, NBC Sports Ventures. “Our live streams on Twitch and YouTube, aligned with streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, plus linear coverage on NBCSN, allow us to super serve the esports ecosystem with comprehensive coverage of Universal Open Rocket League.”

This marks the second consecutive season of Universal Open Rocket League, created by NBC Sports Group and industry-leading competitive gaming platform FACEIT, which is managing all operational phases of Universal Open Rocket League, from the open qualifiers to the Grand Finals. Rocket League, the sports-action hit with a community of more than 46 million players, developed and published by San Diego-based game studio, Psyonix, returns as the featured game for the Universal Open.

Universal Open Rocket League open qualifiers allow all players in the Rocket League North American and European communities to participate. In addition, Closed Qualifiers held in North America and Europe will be produced, hosted and live streamed from FACEIT’s London studio.

Following is the remaining Universal Open Rocket League qualifier schedule:

• July 2-3 European Open Qualifier 3
• July 3-5 Northeast Closed Qualifier
• July 4-5 European Open Qualifier 4
• July 24-26 Central Closed Qualifier
• July 31-August 2 West Closed Qualifier
• August 7-9 European Closed Qualifier

Following the Qualifying Round, the Regional Finals will take place on-site at four NBC Sports Regional Networks’ studios around the United States — NBC Sports Washington (East Regional; July 28), SNY (Northeast Regional; July 29), NBC Sports Chicago (Central Regional; August 5), and NBC Sports Bay Area (West Regional; August 11.

Universal Open Rocket League culminates in a three-day Grand Finals at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., on the weekend of Aug. 24-26. Gale Force Esports won last year’s inaugural Universal Open Rocket League tournament. Click here for more tournament details.

NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, and additional platforms will provide live streaming coverage of the Regional Finals and the Grand Finals. NBCSN will televise the Road to the Universal Open, featuring the Regional Finals, and the Universal Open Grand Finals. NBC Sports Group and Faceit.com will combine to present more than 100 hours of linear and live streaming coverage of Universal Open Rocket League.

Following is the Universal Open Rocket League Regional and Grand Finals schedule:

• Sat., July 28 East Regional Final — NBC Sports Washington
• Sun., July 29 Northeast Regional Final — SNY
• Sun., August 5 Central Regional Final — NBC Sports Chicago
• Sat., August 11 West Regional Final — NBC Sports Bay Area
• Fri., August 24 Grand Finals — NBC Sports Group in Stamford, Conn.
• Sat., August 25 Grand Finals — NBC Sports Group in Stamford, Conn.
• Sun., August 26 Grand Finals — NBC Sports Group in Stamford, Conn.

Last week, NBC Sports announced its roster of casters for the second annual Universal Open Rocket League, headlined by esports host and analyst Rachel “Seltzer” Quirico, who will anchor NBC Sports’ Universal Open Rocket League coverage throughout the Regional Finals and Grand Finals. She entered esports as a competitive gamer in 2006 and made the pivot to on-camera presenting in 2008, and has emceed numerous tournaments and international championships for StarCraft 2, League of Legends, CounterStrike, and Overwatch.

Veteran Rocket League commentators Caleb “WavePunk” Simmons, Mike “Quinn Lobdell” Behrouzi, Joey “JorbyPls” Ahrens and James “JamesBot” Villar all return to provide play-by-play and analysis throughout the Regional Finals and Grand Finals. Larry Ridley (reporter) will provide player interviews throughout the tournament.