RSVP & EVENTS

With over 20 years of global sports, entertainment and marketing experience, Jud Hannigan is a pioneer in the booming esports industry. Jud is a co-founder and former CEO of Allied Esports, a worldwide innovator in esports entertainment events, tournaments, production, content creation and property development that listed on the Nasdaq in 2019.

Jud is recognized as a leader in the esports industry and currently serves as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) Esports Technical Advisory Committee and as an Advisory Council member for non-profit 1000 Dreams Fund. With extensive knowledge of the business of esports, gaming and content, Jud participates in numerous industry expert panels annually and is a trusted resource for media around the world.

Jud led Allied Esports’ expansion from its roots in China, where the company opened the world’s first dedicated esports arena in 2015 in Beijing, to its operations across North America and Europe. Under his direction, the Allied Esports Property Network grew to include HyperX Arena Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel and Casino, the company’s flagship location and the most recognized esports venue in the world; production studios in Hamburg, Germany; the first Mobile Esports Trucks; and the first global esports venue affiliate program, which included the internationally acclaimed Fortress Melbourne in Australia.

Jud also spearheaded the creation of Allied Esports’ original content development, production services and distribution arm, AE Studios, which launched in the summer of 2021 with studios in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Hamburg, creating original and white label productions for top brands in sports, entertainment, tech, pop culture and gaming.

In addition, Jud oversaw Allied’s entry into the next generation of the internet, Web3, with the creation of the non-fungible token (NFT) EPICBEAST. Inspired by gaming characters past and present, EPICBEAST featured 8,591 unique tokens on the Ethereum Blockchain with a roadmap designed to foster community engagement, provide unforgettable experiences and deliver value to its holders.

Prior to co-founding Allied Esports, Jud spent 11 years living and working in China where he founded consulting and trading company Big Turn International, serving as Managing Director until 2015. At Big Turn, he worked with global clients throughout Asia across the Sports and Entertainment, Gaming, Television, Apparel, Consumer Merchandise, Publishing and Media industries which included launching and operating WPT China, an official poker sport in partnership with the Chinese Sports Ministry that consisted of an online and offline tournament series spanning 15 cities and a television show distributed across China on behalf of World Poker Tour.

Before moving to China in 2006, Jud worked in sales and partnership development for NYC Marketing, an office created by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where he developed and executed marketing programs with official city partners and events, including Snapple Beverage Group and the 2005 CMA Awards. Jud began his career in sports and entertainment in the Corporate and Community Relations division of the New York Yankees’ front office.