EA’s ‘Madden’ Championship Series Returns to Full Sail’s Campus

Published Feb 28, 2025

EA’s ‘Madden’ Championship Series Returns to Full Sail’s Campus

The Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress once again served as the home to the ‘Madden’ pro esports series.

A vibrant esports stage with a football-themed setup, featuring "MCS Playoffs" branding, LED screens, and dynamic lighting.

EA’s Madden Championship Series recently returned to Full Sail University’s campus for the MCS 25 Playoffs. Fourteen of the top Madden players competed on stage at the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress for a share of the $1 million prize pool. After launching in the fall 2024, the series made its way back to campus after the Kickoff Challenge in September.

Hosts commentate from a desk in an esports arena featuring "MCS Playoffs" branding, while a camera operator works in the foreground.

Students behind the scenes as commentators host live in the venue.

Sixty students from degree programs including Show Production, Film, Recording Arts, Game Business and Esports, and Sports Broadcasting gained real-world experience working behind the scenes across the three-day professional esports event. Students contributed to stage management, camera operation, lighting, audio roles, and more, helping bring the production to over 100,000 viewers across Twitch and YouTube.

“In my 15-plus years of working in sports production, I have never met a team more committed to excellence than the one we partnered with at Full Sail,” shared Chad Bates, Senior Manager of Creative Content for American Football Esports at EA. “Having the students work on our productions was a true joy, and the expertise of the Full Sail events team was invaluable to the success of the MCS this season.”

The ‘Madden’ Cruiser, a custom EA Sports gaming bus with outdoor screens displaying Madden NFL, parked in a lot.

The Madden Cruiser welcomes attendees outside of The Fortress.

Live audiences attended the first two days of gameplay, enjoying an outdoor area featuring the Madden Cruiser and its first-ever appearance in Florida. The custom EA Sports gaming bus – which had never been open to the public before its MCS 25 stop – let Madden fans celebrate the legacy of the game’s namesake, the legendary football coach and sports commentator John Madden. Inside, attendees explored a timeline of Madden’s career, memorabilia, and a shadow box showcasing every title in the iconic game franchise. Outside, the cruiser invited football and video game fans to face off in their own Madden matches.

A person kicks a football towards an inflatable field goal game outside of the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress.

An attendee takes a shot at the inflatable field goal game during the event.

“The fact that we were provided a space to house an audience this season allowed family, friends, and fans of the MCS to experience live competitive Madden up close and personal like never before,” said Chad. “I am excited about working alongside Full Sail in the future as they continue to provide their students with the most innovative facilities and technologies that befit their stellar reputation.”

After three intense days of gameplay, players “Fancy” and “JonBeast” advanced to the 2025 Madden Bowl, where they’ll compete for the championship title and a $250,000 grand prize on March 3, 2025.