Mentioned in this article Games: Madden NFL 19

EA SPORTS, The CW television network, and the National Football League are partnering to broadcast a television special to highlight the Madden NFL 19 Classic tournament.

The Classic, which took place in December, featured almost 200 competitors and is the first event in the 2019 Madden NFL 19 season.

The special, which airs tonight, is will touch on the tragic shooting that took place at a series qualifier in Jacksonville last August.

The Madden NFL 19 Classic tournament, which took place last month, will be featured in a primetime television special tonight on The CW television network. This “EA SPORTS Madden NFL 19 Classic” special is the result of a partnership between game developer Electronic Arts, the National Football League, and The CW television network.

The Madden NFL 19 Championship Series was initially announced back in August, featuring players from all 32 NFL franchises and a $1.3M USD prize pool. The series, launched in 2016, includes four Majors: the Classic (October), Club Challenge (January), Challenge (March), and Bowl, which is held alongside the NFL Draft in April. There are also a number of smaller qualifiers.

According to EA, the televised broadcast of last season’s “EA SPORTS Madden NFL 18 Challenge” was the most watched North American esports broadcast of 2017. This has paved the way for this new special focused on last December’s Classic, which attracted “almost 200 competitors,” according to EA SPORTS..

Related Article: Electronic Arts Hires New Head of Esports Commercialization

The event and its television special also coincide with the recent hiring of Paul Johnson as the Head of Esports Commercialization for EA. Johnson comes from a sports background and had spent the previous 15 years at the PGA Tour.

The Madden NFL 19 Classic is notable as the first tournament since the tragic shooting that took place at a qualifier event in Jacksonville, Florida, last August. In addition to delaying the start of the Championship Series, EA created a $1M fund for the victims and their families.

According to the company, the “EA Sports Madden NFL 19 Classic” special will directly address how the tragedy affected pro players and fans, promising a behind-the-scenes look at “the community’s unparalleled bond.”