On August 2, Expert Drones, a subsidiary of Dronespire, Inc., announced its move to sponsor an elite racing team, signing numerous nationally ranked pilots. Racers are fully sponsored by Expert Drones and are competing at the much anticipated US National Drone Racing Championships (August 5-7).
“Drone racing is unlike any other sport I’ve ever participated in…I’m excited to be sponsored by Expert Drones and represent the brand at the upcoming Drone Nationals,” said Thomas Wilke, nationally ranked racer and one of Expert Drones sponsored pilots competing in the individual competition.
Expert Drones is a retailer of consumer drone products, offering a range of drone products and accessories. With options for beginners to experts, they bring a wide variety of options for customers. Their services and events department creates customized experiences for Fortune 500 companies who are looking to experience the drone scene. Offerings include obstacle and race courses, drone delivery, and even drone billboards.
“While still in its nascent stages of being fully embraced across the U.S., drone racing is the future of action sports,” said Richard Wicker, a managing partner of Expert Drones. “I very much foresee the day where stadiums are packed full of racing spectators and enthusiasts.”
The US Drone National is set up to be streamed on ESPN. “ESPN legitimizes drone racing from a hobby level to a sport level,” said Sahand Barati, chief executive of Drone Sports Association, the racing league that is putting on the New York race this weekend. “ESPN airing it is proof [that drone racing] is going to be a real thing versus just a fad.”
The extra attention that ESPN brings to the scene is also bringing in more and more sponsors like Expert Drones to the scene. This can only bode well for the scene overall, giving pilots the chance to concentrate on their skills rather than participate as hobbyists.
For more information, check out the articles on Expert Drones and the first ESPN drone broadcast