Innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology at MediaCity has been announced as the lead sponsor of Digital City Festival 2022, where it will be hosting three flagship events.

This is the second consecutive year HOST has sponsored the festival, which is taking place as a week-long celebration from 7th-11th March to showcase Greater Manchester as a world-class destination for the digital community.

A diverse range of events will be taking place at the festival, with HOST focusing on the three key themes of skills, technology and innovation - brought together by the Cyber Summit, the India Pavilion as part of the Digital City Expo and its Esports Festival.

Greater Manchester is looking to be positioned as one of the leading destinations for esports in the UK. Central to this is HOST’s role in creating the MediaCity Esports Campus; bringing together stakeholders from esports, games development and virtual production to create a specialised and unique hub in the UK.

Join us on Friday 11th March where, in association with Esports Insider, HOST brings MediaCity’s first Esports Industry Festival to life. As a part of the wider Digital City Festival the day promises a series of engaging panels, fruitful networking sessions and talks, including the renowned ESI Breakfast Club. We’ll have activations and giveaways from Jimmy’s Iced Coffee on the day too, plus some more surprises in-store.

Register here and attend the event to find out more about the esports industry, meet with leaders from across the space from tournament operators, to professional teams, media leaders, service providers, brands and those creating pathways into careers in and around the industry.

Esports Festival Agenda

9:00-13:00 – ESI Breakfast Club presented by Gravity Media - By invitation only - Please message events@esportsinsider.com to find out more

13:00-18:15 – HOST Esports Festival - Sessions & networking

Networking lunch included

18:15-20:00 - Evening social at MediaCityUK

20:00-late – After party at Pixel Bar

Content Agenda

14:00 - 14:40 - How can the UK esports ecosystem create the best conditions for bringing AAA events to the nation?

Confirmed Speakers

Mark Weller - Chief Gaming Officer - Vexed Gaming

James Dean - Director UK Strategy and Commercial - ESL Gaming

Andrew Haworth - Commissioner - BLAST Premier

Rob Black - Chief Executive Officer - Promod Esports

Laura Byrne - Junior Account Manager - Swipe Right PR

14:45 - 15:25 - Why carving out a space for women and non-binary community members is key to making esports more inclusive

Confirmed Speakers

Riley Soley - Media & Marketing Executive - Esports Insider

Anisah Munim - Product Manager - NUEL

Joanie Kraut - CEO - WIGI

Kendryx Linscott - Chief Marketing Officer - WIGI

Ruby Dawn - COO - Dota Valkyries

15:30 - 16:15 - Networking break & careers roundtables

16:30 - 17:10 - Talent Pipeline - how to create healthy pathways into the esports industry

Confirmed Speakers

Heather Dower - Founder & CEO - Hotdrop

Nathan Edmonds - Head of Community & Marketing - Hitmarker

Becky Wright - Senior Partnerships Manager - NSE

Jon Winkle - Managing Director - EPIC.LAN

17:15 - 18:00 - What benefits does the esports space hold for football clubs and players?

Confirmed Speakers

Steve Hawthorn - Head of Digital, Data & Esports - Burnley FC

Aaron Duckmanton - Head of Global Digital and Content Strategy - Leeds United FC

Jonas Gundersen - COO - NiP

Suzie Dickinson - Head of Talent - Epic Global