Team Liquid have become the second major esports brand to sell a controlling interest in their team to an investor in a matter of days. The ownership group, aXiomatic eSports, will be headed up by Peter Guber and Ted Leonsis, two well-established professional sports team owners.
Wizards, Warriors, and Magic: A Strategic Partnership for Team Liquid
More about our next adventure: https://t.co/8Y3SRICocd
— Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) September 27, 2016
The tweet released from Team Liquid includes mentions of Wizards, Warriors and Magic. This alludes to Guber’s co-ownership of 2015 NBA winners Golden State Warriors, Leonsis’ co-ownership of NBA’s Washington Wizards and the inclusion of NBA legend and entrepreneur Magic Johnson in the co-ownership group.
The co-ownership group includes over 30 big names and companies involved in the acquisition of one of esports most well-established brands. Team Liquid’s Victor “Nazgul” Goossens and Steve “LiQuiD112” Arhancet will continue as Co-CEO’s of the company, with Nazgul emphasising:
“In a way, our involvement in leading Liquid is even more assured now than when we were sole owners.”
The CEO of aXiomatic has been announced Bruce Stein, who has a plethora of experience at the pinnacle of business. Stein has been CEO/COO at companies such as Kenner Products and Sony Interactive Entertainment as well as smaller start-ups. Nazgul added:
“I want to give a shout out to Bruce who has been spearheading many of the conversations this past year. He’s one of the smartest, most grounded, and ethical individuals I’ve ever met and I am proud that I will be able to have him as a mentor.”
“The key to our future success will be to bring the resources and resourcefulness of our ownership group to Victor, Steve and the team they built,” Guber said. “Ted, myself and the individuals that comprise our ownership group have an enormous wealth of experience and talents across virtually every major media and sports business category.”
It’s another interesting stir in the business to business side of esports, with the second large esports organisation being purchased by NBA owners in the space of just two days. Team Dignitas was purchased two days ago by franchise Philadelphia 76ers.
Esports Insider says: This is another intriguing move from a substantial list of huge investors who are both very wealthy and very well established in the business world. The investment certainly offers opportunity for an esports brand to reach the next level and it will be interesting to see how this particular partnership develops.
