As the esports industry continues to grow, investors and opportunists from other fields of entertainment are putting their money into promoting competitive video gaming. Though esports were once thought a fad, the industry now rakes in over a billion dollars a year from streaming competitive events, sponsorships, and advertising. League of Legends has even added new ways to advertise inside the game itself, creating banners in the game’s Rift arena for sponsors to use.
Owners and investors in contact sports like basketball and football have recognized the financial value of teams in the esports industry. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones acquired a majority stake in esports team compLexity in 2017, and the organization has since rebranded as Complexity Gaming, complete with a logo that shows its affiliation with the professional football team. The most recent high-profile merger in esports is that Andbox with Thirty Five Ventures, an investment company partially owned by NBA star Kevin Durant.
Yesterday investment partners Durant and Rich Kleiman announced their investment company would be joining with the Andbox esports organization as a financial supporter and creative partner. Durant will help Andbox raise brand awareness, collaborate with gamers on online tournaments and events, and create custom merchandise and apparel. Andbox is the owner of the Call of Duty League team New York Subliners, the Overwatch League team NYXL, and the company has its own Andbox Valorant team.
Durant is an avid player of both the Call of Duty and NBA 2K franchises, and recognizes the energy that Andbox is bringing to esports in New York. The budding esports scene is something he claims Thirty Five Ventures “is very excited to be a part of.” Durant will wear Andbox apparel and participate in board meetings where the two companies will discuss future collaborations with pro gamers and streamers, as well as plans to broaden the Andbox community.
Durant isn’t the first NBA player to get involved with an esports team. Back in 2016, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal sponsored a League of Legends team, and esports organization FaZe Clan signed NBA player Ben Simmons as an ambassador, as well as Lebron James’ son “Bronny” James as a player last year. Durant is one of the most recognizable athletes in New York since he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019, and his partnership with Andbox will likely increase his influence on young basketball players and video gamers in the New York area and beyond.
Source: Forbes
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply