Team Spirit CEO Discusses CS2 Academy Finances and Player Development

Regarding the academy project:

• We have expanded the CS2 academy roster to 25 people. We have accumulated enough expertise to delve deeper into training younger players, and this was a natural step after the absolute success of the main academy over several generations. As part of the project expansion, we are nurturing not only players but also young coaches and team managers – personnel for whom the scene experiences a constant shortage.
• We do not keep players on “slave contracts.” Throughout the years of the project`s existence, no player has been held by force on a contract. If we understand that a player wants to leave and this decision is well-considered, we always find a mutually beneficial option.
• The contract salary for players depends on their age group and the value they represent. The minimum compensation amount under an academy contract is $300, which is absolutely fair for a hypothetical beginner player aged 14–16. In the future, their salary can multiply within the same contract. If such terms seem unfair to players, I would advise studying how similar mechanisms work in traditional sports.
• The annual budget for the academy project is around $500,000. This includes player, coach, and manager salaries, device support, bootcamps, and other expenses.
• The academy project is primarily about training and adapting players for an adult career, not a way for them to earn money immediately. We are literally providing opportunities to young players who deserve them. Serious income begins with adult contracts.