Casinos in New York continue to operate at limited capacity amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But some are still finding ways to create excitement, including Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady.
Last week Rivers Schenectady announced it will be hosting the Electric City Classic, a single-elimination Madden NFL eSports tournament. Based around the Madden NFL 21 video game, the tourney incorporates online competition and an in-person final for not only bragging rights, but also a cash prize and gaming equipment.
Virtual gridiron competition to take place online with an in-person final
Much as the pandemic has forced the actual NFL season to be creative with scheduling, the Electric City Classic is also doing so with a hybrid format that involves both online play and an in-person final.
Compete4ever (C4) has organized the tournament and boasts more than 10 years of experience organizing similar events while becoming a prominent part of the Madden NFL gaming community.
The single-elimination tournament begins with players facing off in a qualifier, starting online Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. ET. Sign-ups end Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m., so if you wish to play be sure to get registered soon.
Players must be at least 21 years old to participate and will play Madden 21 on their Xbox One consoles using current NFL rosters.
They’ll need to have a Discord account and username, and will need to check in and communicate via the C4 Madden Discord server while playing.
The top four finishers in the online tournament will then be invited to Rivers Schenectady to participate in the final Dec. 11. Those players are responsible for their own travel, although each will receive a free night’s stay and a dining credit at Rivers Schenectady.
Others in the area can also register to play in the finals starting at 11 a.m. on Dec. 11. The in-person final will begin at 2 p.m. at the Van Slyck’s sports bar located next to the Rivers Casino sportsbook.
Electric City Classic final to be streamed live, televised later
For the final, former New York Giants defensive tackle Jay Alford, a member of the Super Bowl XLII squad, will attend. Alford and Larry Ridley, the voice of Madden Football, will be at Rivers Casino providing play-by-play commentary for the event.
C4 will be streaming the final live over multiple platforms:
An edited version of the Electric City Classic will air on the Black News Channel a few weeks after its conclusion. The Black News Channel is available on Spectrum, DirecTV and over various streaming services.
The winner will receive $300 cash, a Zipchair gaming chair branded with the champion’s favorite NFL team, a Lucid Sound headset and a year’s supply of health and wellness products from Skinz.gg.
The runner-up gets $100 and a Lucid Sound headset, while the third- and fourth-place finishers will each receive $50.
More information and online registration for the event is available at the Compete4ever website.
