The Professional Esports Association (PEA) announced Friday that it will suspend its plans for a North American Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league. The decision comes after the majority of its teams' players voted against participating in the PEA league -- and in favor of rival ESL Pro League -- on Thursday evening.
"It has become clear to the PEA organizations that there isn't sufficient financial support in the ecosystem, either from broadcast/streaming partners, sponsors or others, to profitably operate a third prominent online league, due to the oversaturation of the marketplace and the recent upward spiral in operating costs," the PEA said Friday morning in a statement.
The choice to remain in the ESL Pro League was made after a public exchange between the players, team owners and the PEA during the holiday season.
On Dec. 20, Slingshot Esports reported that the teams in the PEA would bar their players from competing in the ESL Pro League due to the PEA's rivalry with the World Esports Association, an organization that is comprised of several major European teams and tournament organizer ESL.
The following day, players from five of the PEA teams -- Cloud9, Counter Logic Gaming, Immortals, Team Liquid and Team SoloMid -- penned an open letter stating that they were disappointed their teams did not inform them of this impending decision and that they would like to participate in making that decision.
As a result, the PEA and its teams opened a vote for players to make their voices heard. That vote, held Thursday, saw all of the participating players unanimously choose the ESL Pro League over the PEA league.