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Founded in 2018, Contender Esports is an American franchise dedicated to creating dynamic esports gaming centers. With its headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, the brand delivers cutting-edge gaming stations, retail merchandise, and an energetic space designed for gaming enthusiasts.
Since its launch into franchising in 2018, Contender Esports has offered aspiring entrepreneurs a pathway into the booming esports market. The company stands out by providing several franchise options, such as Mobile Gaming Venues, Elite Centers, and Premier Centers, allowing it to meet various customer demands.
Today, Contender Esports operates multiple locations worldwide, with a strong footprint in the United States. The franchise remains focused on expanding its global reach, positioning itself as a major player in the competitive gaming industry.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
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Contender Esports provides a structured training system to prepare franchisees and their teams for successful operations. Here’s a numbered summary of the training programs:
Contender Esports grants franchisees a designated territory, typically around two miles from the gaming center, though this may vary depending on population density, demographics, or location type.
While franchisees operate within this defined territory, they do not receive exclusive territory rights, meaning they may face competition from other franchisees or outlets owned by the franchisor.
Additionally, the franchisor retains the right to use other distribution channels, like online sales or catalog marketing, within the franchisee’s area. The franchisor can also license others to operate gaming centers in captive markets such as airports or colleges, even within a franchisee’s designated territory.
Below are some of
Contender Esports
key competitors in the
Other Recreation
sector.

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Cork & Candles is an experiential retail franchise offering guided custom candle-making with drinks and events, serving social groups, date nights, and corporate outings, and known for immersive scent bars, Instagram-ready studios, and highly repeatable, workshop-driven revenue.
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Social Play Haus is a family-focused hospitality franchise offering a café, bar, and indoor play spaces, serving parents with young children, and known for drinks, kid-friendly menus, birthday parties, and flexible zones where adults relax or work while kids explore.
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Sheenco Travel is a travel-services franchise offering bespoke luxury itineraries to Ireland, the UK, and nearby destinations, serving affluent leisure travelers, and known for castle stays, private-driver tours, and highly personalized planning that emphasizes memorable, relationship-driven experiences over standardized packages.
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Trolley Pub, Trolley Party, Paddle Pub and Tiki Pub is a mobile entertainment tour franchise offering pedal-powered party bikes and boats, serving social groups and tourists, and known for BYOB experiences, scenic routes, and celebratory outings on streets and waterways.
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Animal World is a children's indoor-play franchise offering themed playgrounds, inflatables, and birthday-party packages, serving families with young kids, and known for its animal-themed equipment, multiple revenue streams, and affordable, flexible franchise model tailored to local communities.
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Bud’s Place is a lounge-franchise offering social-consumption cannabis lounges with food, beverages and entertainment, serving adults in regulated markets, and known for upscale ambiance, multiple revenue streams, and emerging industry positioning.
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