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Esports Outfit Team Liquid Sells To NBA, MLB Team Owners
Team Liquid is currently one of the biggest names in eSports, having fielded top-tier teams and players in competitive games like StarCraft, Dota 2, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros. Melee. The team has been successful enough to court the interests of major sports investors, who have acquired a controlling interest in the team.
The team was acquired by Peter Guber and Ted Leonsis. Guber currently co-owns the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and MLS' Los Angeles Football Club and serves as Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group. Leonsis is the Founder, Chairman, and owner of Monumental Sports and & Entertainment, which owns a number of Washington DC-based teams, including the Mystics, the Wizards, and the Washtington Valor.
Team owners Steve Arhancet and Victor Goossens will continue serving as Co-CEOs of the team, as well as its directors. "I will always be a fan at heart - a gamer who fell in love with League of Legends," said Arhancet. "I followed that heart and built a team that is now shaping the future of esports, but there are still so many opportunities that we want to explore. With our new ownership group leading the charge, I am certain that we can grow from a premier esports team to a powerhouse sports entertainment franchise."
Other investors and co-owners include Earvin "Magic" Johnson, VR company NextVR, and former NFL Linebacker Dhani Jones.
[Source: Business Wire]
Correction: This story previously stated Leonsis owned Washtington state teams. This was not the case. Game Informer regrets the error.
Our Take
Along with the news of the 76ers picking up an eSports team of their own, this is sign of the times. ESports is big enough that investors are starting to treat them like regular sports teams. Here's hoping the extra cash helps the team expand their player and team pool.
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