Contender Esports vs i9 Sports
Contender Esports vs i9 Sports: Contender Esports costs $75K to $354K to open; i9 Sports costs $30K to $381K. Contender Esports has 8 units, i9 Sports has 13. SBA loan history: Contender Esports = 12 loans (0.0% default); i9 Sports = 16 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Contender Esports vs i9 Sports: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
i9 Sports requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $75K for Contender Esports), a 150% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $39K for Contender Esports versus $29K for i9 Sports, i9 Sports has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Contender Esports and 7.5% for i9 Sports, giving Contender Esports the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, i9 Sports operates 13 units to Contender Esports's 8. i9 Sports has been operating 23 years (founded 2003) versus 8 for Contender Esports (founded 2018), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
i9 Sports has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 16 7(a) approvals compared with 12 for Contender Esports. Contender Esports's peak SBA year was 2025 (3 loans); i9 Sports's peak was 2021 (5 loans). Contender Esports's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Contender Esports has the most SBA funded units in CO, with 2. i9 Sports leads in FL, with 3. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Contender Esports deals is $257K vs $188K for i9 Sports, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Contender Esports and 0.0% for i9 Sports. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Contender Esports and 60 (Moderate) for i9 Sports, giving Contender Esports the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 60/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 12 | 16 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $75K to $354K | $30K to $381K |
Franchise Fee | $39K | $29K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7.5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 8 | 13 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 13 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2018 | 2003 |
Franchising Since | 2018 | 2014 |
Years Franchising | 8 yrs | 12 yrs |
Headquarters | Springfield, CO | FREDERICK, MD |
Category | Sports Teams | Sports Teams |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2023 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Contender Esports or i9 Sports?
Lower upfront capital required
i9 Sports
Contender Esports: $75K starting · i9 Sports: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
i9 Sports
Contender Esports: 12 SBA loans · i9 Sports: 16 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Contender Esports: 0.0% · i9 Sports: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
i9 Sports
Contender Esports: 8 units · i9 Sports: 13 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Contender Esports
Contender Esports: 6% · i9 Sports: 7.5%
More lender financing options
i9 Sports
Contender Esports: 8 unique lenders · i9 Sports: 9 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Contender Esports vs i9 Sports: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Contender Esports and i9 Sports is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $381K.
Contender Esports has 12 SBA loans on record and i9 Sports has 16. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Contender Esports vs i9 Sports, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Contender Esports or i9 Sports?
How much does a Contender Esports franchise cost compared to i9 Sports?
Can I finance Contender Esports or i9 Sports with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Contender Esports or i9 Sports?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
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