Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind Saudi Arabia’s luxury regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced a three-year sponsorship deal with South Korean esports powerhouse T1 Entertainment & Sports (T1).
Sponsorship deal
The announcement was made during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, marking the first time a tourism developer has partnered at this scale with a global esports brand.
The agreement, brokered by CAA Sports—T1’s exclusive commercial agent—positions RSG at the forefront of a rapidly expanding global industry, where esports viewership is projected to reach 640.8 million fans in 2025, including 318.1 million dedicated followers.
T1 is a leading name in competitive gaming, best known for its dominance in League of Legends. The team clinched the inaugural League of Legends title at the 2024 Esports World Cup in Riyadh and is led by esports icon and five-time world champion Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok. The organization also competes in titles such as VALORANT, Tekken 8, EAFC Online, and Overwatch 2.
“Esports is an exciting and growing area, boasting millions of fans worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia,” said Raed Albasseet, Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer at RSG, in a statement. “Not only does this partnership give us a powerful platform to connect with new demographics across new geographies, but aligns our brand with an organization known for its relentless focus on innovation, excellence and pushing boundaries.”
Under the agreement, RSG’s logo will be featured prominently on the front of T1’s official team jerseys. In addition, RSG will become the presenting sponsor of T1’s YouTube content—home to more than 1.56 million subscribers—and gain visibility across major international tournaments and events.
The partnership reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing ambitions to become a global hub for sports, entertainment, and innovation, with RSG at the heart of its tourism transformation.
“Just as we at T1 strive for mastery in competitive gaming, RSG is setting new global standards in luxury hospitality and regenerative tourism,” said Josh Ahn, COO of T1 Entertainment & Sports, in a statement. “We will seek to bring to life a shared ethos of excellence, precision, and performance. Together, we look forward to creating unique experiences that will resonate with our global fanbase.”
Red Sea Global
Red Sea Global’s destinations are rapidly taking shape. The Red Sea welcomed its first guests in 2023 and currently has five resorts open, as well as the Red Sea International Airport (RSI), strategically located within three hours’ flying time of 250 million people—and within eight hours for 85% of the global population. Eleven additional hotels are expected to open in the coming months.
Meanwhile, AMAALA is slated to open later this year with 1,470 hotel keys across eight luxury resorts, aiming to become the world’s leading health and wellness destination. It will feature offerings from some of the world’s most respected wellness operators. RSG’s third destination, Thuwal Private Retreat, opened in 2024.
