Hot off one of the worst seasons in NBA history, the Philadelphia 76ers invests in a different sport entirely. The team has purchased controlling stakes in Team Dignitas and Apex, merging them into a single esports team managed and maintained by the professional sports organisation.
Team Dignitas, an esports powerhouse founded in 2004, and League of Legends’ stars Team Apex are merging into a single entity under the Dignitas name, with the Sixers handling all aspects of day-to-day management — sales, merchandising, marketing, branding and publicity. Team Dignitas manager Greg Richardson will serve as chairman of the combined team.
“I think 13 years ago when we started, we were literally hoping we could get some money, a couple hundred pounds to go to a tournament,” Dignitas founder Michael O’Dell told Slingshot Esports. “I couldn’t have envisioned 13 years later that we’d be signing with an NBA team.”
The move makes the Philadelphia 76ers and its ownership the first traditional sports team to own an esports team (sorry Manchester United). Hopefully the new Team Dignitas will have more success under the Philadelphia 76ers banner than the actual basketball team, who went 10 and 72 last season.
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3 responses to “The Philadelphia 76ers Buy Two Esports Teams”
Except that they aren’t. FC Schalke (German football club) have had a league of legends team in May this year. Nice fact checking as usual Kotaku.
Trust the process.
Pooooor Sam, he took all the fall for “the process” and just when its looking up others come in and are going to get all the credit for it.
but also, tanking sucks.I don’t think tanking as a strategy works in E-sports somehow
As someone mentioned, a bunch of football clubs have already set up esports teams/players or acquired an existing one. Maybe first NBA franchise?
Also that name. Pretty sure Dignitas exists as a pro-euthanasia group.