'A hotbed of innovation': Why BLAST is betting big on US Esports

    Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer of BLAST, has revealed why the Danish esports tournament organiser has decided to invest heavily in Esports in the United States.

    Blast esports Counter-Strike Blast esports Counter-Strike

    After staging numerous events across Europe, the organisation also expanded into Asia before announcing on May 8 that the US would be its next destination.

    BLAST has grown into one of the world's leading tournament operators. Initially making its mark in Counter-Strike esports, the company has since expanded into other titles, including Rainbow Six Siege, Fortnite and Rocket League, and their US expansion signals their intent to support an even broader range of esports titles.

    "An amazing component of esports is you can do new things in games, or in old games," Matlock told Esports Insider, after confirming that he was moving to BLAST's New York City offices as part of the expansion.

    "We are committed to innovating new products and forms of competitive entertainment globally, and we feel the US is a great market — we recently created and delivered the Fortnite FNCS Pro-Am in LA with Epic Games, which saw creators and personalities teaming up to compete with pros. We feel the US market is a hotbed of innovation in entertainment and this is an environment we are leaders in."

    The opening of BLAST's New York City offices marks a strategic move to strengthen collaboration with both existing and prospective partners. According to Matlock, the expansion will "accelerate" the company's development and its partnership efforts with North American publishers.

    Beyond innovating on both new and existing esports products, BLAST's US presence offers a valuable platform to engage more closely with key industry stakeholders.

    In addition to launching its new offices, BLAST also played a role in the creation of Global Esports Industry Week - a B2B networking event set to run alongside its upcoming Counter-Strike Major in Austin, Texas.

    "There's never been a more important time for the industry to come together," Matlock said. "As esports continues to mature, stakeholders across publishers, teams, brands, and broadcasters are looking for clarity, connection, and collaboration.

    "The Global Esports Industry Week is designed to provide exactly that —a platform to showcase innovation, align on key challenges, and forge partnerships that drive long-term growth."

    Matlock added: "For BLAST, 2025 has been a pivotal year of global expansion aimed at driving sustainable growth in key regions like North America and Asia alongside establishing a stronger local presence and dedicated support in these markets.

    "That enables us to deepen community engagement, unlock new commercial opportunities and build a more resilient and future-proof business."