Team Liquid sold to investment group incl Magic Johnson; Dodgers, Capitals and Warriors owners - Polidicks

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/9fSTbpL.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]Team Liquid, one of the most successful global esports team franchises, has announced the sale of the controlling interest in their team to a diversified and accomplished ownership group led by two renowned professional sports team owners, media and technology entrepreneurs - Peter Guber and Ted Leonsis. Team Liquid has been one of the most recognizable forces in esports for the last 15 years and has built a reputation as an innovator in the industry while staying true to its roots in the gaming community. With more than 50 players competing on 10 different teams, Team Liquid competes at the highest level in global tournaments including StarCraft 2, League of Legends, Dota 2, Hearthstone, CS:GO, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, Halo, Street Fighter, and SSBM. Guber is a major player in both sports and entertainment, serving as Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group and the co-owner of three professional sports teams: the 2015 NBA champion Golden State Warriors (NBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) and Los Angeles Football Club (MLS). Guber is an investor and Board member of Dick Clark Productions, which produces the American Music Awards and Golden Globe Awards. His Mandalay Entertainment Group continues to release major motion pictures to the global market each year and he also serves as Chairman/owner of Mandalay Sports Media. Ted Leonsis is a nationally renowned entrepreneur, investor, and sports team owner. Leonsis is the Founder, Chairman, and majority owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Wizards (NBA), Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Valor (Arena football) and the Verizon Center (downtown D.C.). Leonsis is the co-founder and partner of Revolution Growth, a $1 billion set of investment funds. Leonsis serves on the board of many of the Revolution companies, such as Bedrock Manufacturing, parent company of Shinola and Filson, Sportradar USA, CustomInk and Optoro, and he is on the board of several public companies, including American Express and Groupon. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160927006174/en/aXiomatic-Acquires-Controlling-Interest-Team-Liquid-Leading[/url] [url]https://www.teamliquidpro.com/news/2016/09/27/wizards-warriors-and-magic-a-strategic-partnership[/url]

I wonder what Ken Hoang is thinking now, after winning championships in Melee as far back as 2003 and being a contestant on Survivor to still playing the same game 13 years later while being sponsored by people that own NHL, MLB and NBA teams.

More steps to further legitimizing Esports in the public eye.

This off season for league will be insane.

With this and the recent purchases by 76ers, Esports is entering a very interesting time.

[QUOTE=Headhumpy;51118058]With this and the recent purchases by 76ers, Esports is entering a very interesting time.[/QUOTE] Waiting for Mark Cuban now, if that happens it is for certain we're in interesting times for esports. Otherwise, I might fear this is a bubble.

[QUOTE=FezianEmperor;51118127]Otherwise, I might fear this is a bubble.[/QUOTE] Going to an extreme here, of this continues it will be the end of esports as we know it

I want esports to get the respect they deserve but I like the way things are now. I don't want these sports organizations to shit up the CSGO majors like they shit up their own sports.

What is with NBA Organizations and players and wanting to buy Esports teams all of a sudden? In the past year, Gravity Gaming (now Echo Fox), NRG eSports, Renegades, Team Dignitas, and now Team Liquid have all been bought (or in the case of NRG, invested in) by current and former NBA professionals.

These are some of the folks responsible for making sure Dodgers games are [url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-scully-dodgers-standoff-charter-20160902-snap-story.html]unwatchable by the majority of people living here.[/url] If I'm unable to watch the goddamn [i]home team[/i] I wonder how they'll fuck up esports next.

[QUOTE=chipsnapper2;51118555]Going to an extreme here, of this continues it will be the end of esports as we know it[/QUOTE] Esports right now lives by Riot Games, they are the ones that put esports into the western media and NBAs/Football teams interest. Riot has a company is one of the slowest to improve, they just now introduced crowdfunding to increase revenue in the scene. They thankfully have plans for revenue on digital team items for next season. But, revenue share from advertisements will be a long, long way away. I am not sure if the revenue will be enough when TSM still barely turn a profit. I really hope these investors we are seeing now pressure Riot more to start to get themselves ready to franchise the NALCS, share profit from broadcast rights and advertisements with each team and let EULCS have an entire different strategy. [editline]28th September 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=The_Funk;51118930]These are some of the folks responsible for making sure Dodgers games are [url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-scully-dodgers-standoff-charter-20160902-snap-story.html]unwatchable by the majority of people living here.[/url] If I'm unable to watch the goddamn [i]home team[/i] I wonder how they'll fuck up esports next.[/QUOTE] Don't worry, Riot Games own League of Legends. The games will be played at Riots studio and there is no movement between studios ever in League except during finals. [editline]28th September 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=Dr.C;51118577]I want esports to get the respect they deserve but I like the way things are now. I don't want these sports organizations to shit up the CSGO majors like they shit up their own sports.[/QUOTE] All the team investments still use the CEOs of the original companies in this plan, meaning they have no clue how to run this (Which isn't surprising its' a new space for investments) Problems here is like what happened with Schalke where the Schalke team literally decided to keep Maelk a guy that has no interest in League and was absent during the relegation matches because of being at TI. Schalke had no analysts or any expertise and was basically left to "survive" one split, before Schalke could make any changes. Hopefully the 76ers are more hands-on than for example Team Liquid and NRG, Immortals as they are all just investment firms. Also nothing really changes in the esport space, you will still see the same players on teams (unless they go to other teams, obviously), but the ownership will be different and more prestigious. I don't see much changing in CSGO. Most of these investments with buying the entire teams and brands are mostly due to League of Legends. Also as a side note, investments or purchases from these big players, doesn't mean much. I don't see Faker or anyone else migrating to NALCS because of this. Unless these investment firms are really interested in creating something real special. Though as always, we have the example of Schalke FC who didn't change anything and their status is pretty much unconfirmed to what their roster will be right now. Whatever the meaning of professionalizing their esports section meant. I think the roster changes coming in December will be absolutely insane, unless as I said these are just investments and don't really have a handson need to create a big player based brand. [editline]28th September 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=SurReal223;51118853]What is with NBA Organizations and players and wanting to buy Esports teams all of a sudden? In the past year, Gravity Gaming (now Echo Fox), NRG eSports, Renegades, Team Dignitas, and now Team Liquid have all been bought (or in the case of NRG, invested in) by current and former NBA professionals.[/QUOTE] A lot of this has to do with the fact that NBA itself had an interest in the growth of esports, during a presentation for the board of governors it was clear that the NBA itself had an interest in esports. This then led to a lot of people in the NBA scene wanting to get into this, I mean after the announcement of Echo Fox (which surprisingly had nothing to do with the growth of esports, but rather about the fact that Rick Fox wanted to be closer with his son) in December. A lot of these deals were started during this time period and hasn't come into fruition until now. Sacramento Kings by the way is a investor of Immortals. Just so you know. Basically, League of Legends and NBA is in very tight knit relationship for multiple reasons. Mostly due to the fact that NBA is so popular and when the NBA sees something being potentially as big as them they tell others about it and say "Hey invest here!"

[QUOTE=FezianEmperor;51122153]Esports right now lives by Riot Games, they are the ones that put esports into the western media and NBAs/Football teams interest. Riot has a company is one of the slowest to improve, they just now introduced crowdfunding to increase revenue in the scene. They thankfully have plans for revenue on digital team items for next season. But, revenue share from advertisements will be a long, long way away.[/QUOTE] I'd say currently riot has the lowest presence in the western media, despite the size of the game. CSGO is being shown on TV now and even advertised in bars, Dota 2 gets on ESPN during TI and has a lot of news in media about its prize pool size. League doesn't have that, but they have the numbers advantage to be known purely by word. [QUOTE]Also nothing really changes in the esport space, you will still see the same players on teams (unless they go to other teams, obviously), but the ownership will be different and more prestigious. I don't see much changing in CSGO. Most of these investments with buying the entire teams and brands are mostly due to League of Legends.[/QUOTE] I'd say this is also wrong, due to how poor advertising and sponsorship income is in league due to all the rules and regulations (see the TSM Vive video takedown), if you invest in League you can only invest in winning teams. Currently, with Liquid LOL doing poorly and DiG being relegated the most recent investments we've been seeing are more likely due to the CSGO teams (possible dota 2 liquid team as well). Even Shaq's investment in NRG isn't that profitable for the League LCS, as the team has disbanded. The only investment I think has been purely league related was Apex [QUOTE]Basically, League of Legends and NBA is in very tight knit relationship for multiple reasons. Mostly due to the fact that NBA is so popular and when the NBA sees something being potentially as big as them they tell others about it and say "Hey invest here!"[/QUOTE] Again, League is not an investors space. [video=youtube;YgbyByAgQ7Q]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgbyByAgQ7Q[/video] A good video on the topic.

[QUOTE=KillRay;51122835]I'd say currently riot has the lowest presence in the western media, despite the size of the game. CSGO is being shown on TV now and even advertised in bars, Dota 2 gets on ESPN during TI and has a lot of news in media about its prize pool size. League doesn't have that, but they have the numbers advantage to be known purely by word.[/QUOTE] This is false, Global Offensive didn't get a spot in the media until TURNER magically decided to give esports on TV a chance. They had favorable ratings at least they said so. Dota 2 gets attention because of the TI prize pool only. League has the numbers advantage which is all that matters in investor eyes. Remember, the Phillys' project leader for esports stated clearly "Advertisements can hit the crowd that NEVER watches TV and never watches real sports". It's a crowd advertisers want to get their hands on. Numbers matter ad infinitum. When 34 million people watch the Finals for League and these numbers are up there with other real sports event numbers. Investors get interested. [QUOTE=KillRay;51122835]Again, League is not an investors space. [/QUOTE] That's surprising considering Schalke FC clearly entered the League scene to stay in the long run and had grand plans. Several of the other brands that have come into esports are stating the same, they are here to build and make a great esports space. [URL="http://splitpush.net/news/lol-news/eu-lcs/schalke-04-press-conference-want-teams-playing-gelsenkirchen/"]http://splitpush.net/news/lol-news/eu-lcs/schalke-04-press-conference-want-teams-playing-gelsenkirchen/[/URL] [URL="http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/17643933/76ers-ceo-team-dignitas-best-place-world-esports"]http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/17643933/76ers-ceo-team-dignitas-best-place-world-esports[/URL] If that isn't an investment space I don't care if LCS isn't proftable, everyone knows this. Thorin knows this. Guess why its' not profitable? Because Riot hasn't raised their stipend even though Venture capitals are entering the scene, NBA is entering the scene, football clubs are entering the scene. People are investing into this because LCS is the premier esports show and the premier esport with the most viewers. People want to get in right now, PSG are dabbling in getting a team too for LoL as reported by Kicker, a well respected sports publisher. TODAY. Riot has all the control in the league, Riot owns the league and your team if you enter the LCS. Sponsorships are illegal in the LCS because the LCS has up to now been a sponsorship deal for Riots' game League of Legends and their products which are skins. [editline]28th September 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=KillRay;51122835] I'd say this is also wrong, due to how poor advertising and sponsorship income is in league due to all the rules and regulations (see the TSM Vive video takedown), if you invest in League you can only invest in winning teams. Currently, with Liquid LOL doing poorly and DiG being relegated the most recent investments we've been seeing are more likely due to the CSGO teams (possible dota 2 liquid team as well). Even Shaq's investment in NRG isn't that profitable for the League LCS, as the team has disbanded. [/QUOTE] Exactly, this is the real issue. There's no profit, no sponsorship, no broadcast rights, no advertisements. Everything needs to change in the LCS. Otherwise these investments are going to abundantly leave the scene rather quickly OR move to other esports that are run much better and more responsible. Though, funnily enough Valve will never do anything ridiculous like this. Only Riot has the chance to make their game into a sports and they can fuck it up. Hopefully the investors can push Riot to allow more sponsorship for the teams and start to fix the issues the league has about revenue. Revenue streams from skins is the first step. Even though it should've happened years ago. It doesn't help that Riot seems to be taking it rather slow, has even gone back on providing revenue from different regions (Garenas region isnt providing money to the Championship, most likely not even China. So you can imagine how much loss of prize pool money that is)

Meh, liquid isn't what they used to be in Dota. I also don't get why you think the prize pool is the only reason Dota gets any mention. The players make it as popular as it is, and raise it to the heights it goes to.

[QUOTE=ghghop;51125741]Meh, liquid isn't what they used to be in Dota. I also don't get why you think the prize pool is the only reason Dota gets any mention. The players make it as popular as it is, and raise it to the heights it goes to.[/QUOTE] Remember I'm talking in the general media sense of things, from the outside looking in. Most will just see Dota 2 as "Oh, TI and maybe EG". That's about it. The game has such a competitive scene, has ridiculous numbers of legends still playing and has a very low number of new fresh talent that actually makes it to the pinnacle of competition. Even then none of this matters to investor or general media folks. What people care about especially investors is money and how much potential it has for the advertisement.

[QUOTE=FezianEmperor;51127265]Remember I'm talking in the general media sense of things, from the outside looking in. Most will just see Dota 2 as "Oh, TI and maybe EG". That's about it. The game has such a competitive scene, has ridiculous numbers of legends still playing and has a very low number of new fresh talent that actually makes it to the pinnacle of competition. Even then none of this matters to investor or general media folks. What people care about especially investors is money and how much potential it has for the advertisement.[/QUOTE] That's why I liken it to the Football of eSports, whereas the other more accessible games are the easier to get into sports