The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced Monday that it has acquired the rights to oversee and manage the Aurora Series, which will be returning during the 2025-26 academic year.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Aimed at marginalized college and university students in North America, the Aurora Series features competition across multiple titles. More details about which titles will be used for competition as well as the schedule of events will be announced in the next few weeks.
“Having the drive to compete but no space that felt completely safe was a big reason I reached out to Cora Kennedy about starting the Aurora Series in 2023,” said NECC and Aurora Series Director of Social Media Kylie Welch. “Since then, it’s been incredible to see schools build teams, scholarships emerge, and a true sense of community take shape around the Aurora Series. When I heard its doors were set to close, I immediately reached out to my team at the NECC to help keep it alive.”
In case you are not familiar with the organization, the NECC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that operates a national collegiate esports program that works with more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States—and with clubs where the local education institution does not offer an official collegiate esports program.
On Oct. 1, NECC announced that Victory Rings had been named a preferred partner to create custom-made NECC championship rings.
In July, Aurora Series Founder and Executive Director Kora Kennedy announced that she would shut down the competition:
For more information about the NECC, participating schools, and more, check out at necc.gg.