One of Norway’s biggest football clubs, Vålerenga Fotball AS, have entered esports via a joint venture with local esports team BX3.
The new joint venture will be called Nordavind AS. Thanks to the arrangement with the Oslo based football team, which itself is part of multi-sports club Vålerengens IF, Nordavind will gain access to the club’s impressive facilities such as the Intility Arena. This will include training facilities for the team and players, as well as office space for the business and administrative side of things.
Vålerenga Fotball AS are owned by Magni Sports and this company has initially secured 80% of Nordavind. Tor Olav Trøim, Owner of Magni and the main shareholder in VIF, said this of the news: “We have found a team of very good people and practitioners led by Stein Wilmann and Steffen Willumsen (founders of BX3) who have gained much in a short period of time with limited funds. We hope to facilitate a solid international commitment and are excited about where we can work with Nordavind!”
Steffen Willumsen, Commercial Manager of Nordavind AS, had this to say: “To take the stage to the international stage is a goal we have been working hard for the last seven years, and it is therefore extraordinary to announce our commitment and cooperation today. We have brought with us a team of people who have unique competence that we look forward to working with, as well as learning from. We look forward to starting the job at the New Year.”
BX3 have had rosters across a number of games including CS:GO, League, Hearthstone, Rocket League, Overwatch, Street Fighter and Tekken and more. A post on the BX3 Facebook page sharing the news of the new investment on December 12th noted that the rebranded organisation will be looking for FIFA players.
The original press release can be found here.
Esports Insider says: BX3 were founded back in 2011 and this investment and partnership is a huge game changer for the organisation. It’s good to see Vålerenga Fotball AS involved in esports, and hopefully this partnership can mirror or even surpass the success of that of FC Copenhagen and North in nearby Denmark.
