“I think Visas have always been a topic for North America” – Ulrich Schulze, SVP of Esports at ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group’s Senior Vice President of Esports Ulrich Schulze discussed the organization’s tournament strategy and operations in an interview at Global Esports Industry Week in Cologne. Schulze reflected on Cologne’s establishment as a flagship esports event and the lessons EFG applies to other tournaments in its circuit. A key focus of the discussion centered on how ESL extends brand value to secondary tournaments, helping to establish their competitive significance within the broader esports ecosystem.
The interview also addressed operational challenges facing the organization, particularly regarding North American esports events. Schulze touched on difficulties in attracting teams to North American tournaments, highlighting visa-related obstacles as a persistent factor affecting event participation and competitiveness. Beyond tournament operations, Schulze discussed EFG’s business trajectory, specifically addressing the accelerated timeline toward profitability within the expanded ESL FACEIT Group structure following recent consolidation.