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Sports and entertainment conglomerate Anschutz Entertainment Group has taken a minority stake in popular pro video game team Immortals and will host home games at its L.A. Live stadium in Los Angeles, it was announced Tuesday.
The size of the strategic investment was not disclosed, but the deal puts AEG alongside big-name co-owners of the Immortals like Lionsgate studio, financier Michael Milken, Oaktree Capital principal Steve Kaplan and Third Wave entrepreneur Allen DeBevoise.
AEG earlier got into the fast-growing pro video gaming sports business by striking a deal with ESL that allows the world’s largest e-sports promoter to use its 120 clubs, theaters, arenas and stadiums worldwide for qualifying events, tournaments and world championships.
“Expanding our interests in e-sports is a natural progression as we continue to invest in growth initiatives that further our leadership in sports and live entertainment,” Dan Beckerman, president and CEO of AEG, said in a statement. The Immortals franchise competes in the League of Legends North American league championship series.
As part of its own investment in the Immortals, Lionsgate is looking to create more original e-sports content for TV and digital platforms via subsidiary Pilgrim Media Group.
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