Item-Mania rejected, KeSPA might take over Hanbit Stars

KeSPA did not accept Item-Mania as a sponsor for Hanbit Stars. Now, most is pointing towards that KeSPA themselves will manage Hanbit Soft until the end of September.

Who will lead Hanbit Stars? Photo: Fomos.kr
GosuGamers reported five days ago that Hanbitsoft would sell their Hanbit Stars contracts to Item-Mania. Everything seemed to be going well for the team, having the back-up and support, but there was one major detail: The Korean eSports Association (KeSPA) needs to approve each team's head sponsors.

And today, KeSPA had a meeting with about the matter, and they suggest Hanbit Soft to reconsider the contract with Item-Mania and instead hand over the management to KeSPA until the start of the next ProLeague season. But Hanbit Stars did not fully agree with all the details.

KeSPA suggested to Hanbitsoft that they would pay all the current running costs of Hanbit Stars and try to find a new sponsor until the end of September which is when the new season starts. Should KeSPA not be able to find a new sponsor - Hanbit Stars will dissolve. Dissolving the team would result in all the players being drafted to one of the other 10 teams (ACE not included) in order to continue their progaming careers. The head coach is in a tougher predicament, as there is no team for him to jump over to.

A sweet deal, one might think, but Hanbit Stars did not fully agree. The players and the head coach wants the same salary from KeSPA as they would have received from Item-Mania. This is something KeSPA needs to reconsider, and the discussion will continue in the upcoming days.

KeSPA did not accept Item-Mania as sponsors for Hanbit Stars due to Item-Mania's main business, which is dealing with and being the middle-man for items and gear selling in online games. KeSPA says that it is not good for eSports because the general target of eSports is the younger generation.

A professional gaming team needs to be accepted by KeSPA in order to play any tournaments where KeSPA is involved, for instance OnGameNet and MBCGame StarLeague and the ProLeague.