BLAST Ended The Partnership With NEOM

The Danish tournament organization company BLAST, especially famous for their short and intense tournament concepts in last years, has announced the termination of recently announced partnership with the Saudi Arabian state-backed city development NEOM. The concerns expressed by teams after the announcement of this partnership created a serious pressure, and eventually BLAST became the second one to end their partnership with NEOM after League Europe Championship following the same path.

Reasons are stated as their human right violations, especially for the LGBTQ+ communities and NEOM being built on the lands of indigenous tribe Huwaitat. As Saudi Arabia is ruled with Islamic Sharia Law, being homosexual or transgender is a reason for punishment. Many well-known individuals and esports clubs expressed their concerns about the matter after the initial announcement of this partnership.

With two partnerships terminated in two weeks by prominent companies, one by Riot Games and other BLAST, future of NEOM is preserving the uncertain state. Despite the serious potential of investments and partnerships, ethical concerns are still very effective in such strategic decisions.