Nickelodeon, DMG Entertainment, SoftBank ISAT, and Pro Sports Owner Jeff Vinik Close Out Super League's Series C Round With $15 Million
Entertainment, Media and Sports Titans Drive $28 Million Total Invested Since 2014 Founding of Leading Esports Gaming Platform
SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Super League Gaming, the global community platform that offers accessible esports competitions, content and social interactions for amateur gamers, today announced that it has received $15 million in Series C funding from Nickelodeon, a division of Viacom, DMG Entertainment, a SoftBank-managed fund, Toba Capital, Cali Group and multiple traditional professional sports team owners including Jeffrey Vinik, owner of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, and aXiomatic, a premier esports entity backed by professional sports and media leaders. To date, Super League has raised more than $28 million, with earlier participation from investors including Cinemark USA, Inc., ET Capital and Quadrant Management.
"Esports is exploding in popularity around the world, but the current landscape is lacking an open, easy access point for aspiring gamers and enthusiasts to connect and participate," said Ann Hand, CEO of Super League Gaming. "With our online and live in-person events, we're leading the way in bringing gamers into esports in a safe, fun and socially rewarding way. Our city-based clubs add a sense of belonging and fandom currently missing from esports."
Founded in 2014 with its initial offering of Minecraft events in movie theaters for kids, Super League has now hosted more than 30,000 kids in friendly competition over six seasons of play. In November of 2016, Super League expanded its offering by introducing the world's most played video game, League of Legends, to its competitive events series in partnership with Riot Games. There has been one season of League of Legends intercity tournament play, with the second season launching online in July in 12 markets across the United States.
"We are excited to enter the world of esports through our relationship with Super League, which has a loyal and growing fan base of kids," said Matthew Evans, Executive Vice President of Digital and New Business, Nickelodeon. "Nickelodeon is interested in esports because gaming is an important passion point for kids today, and forging this partnership with Super League puts us at the forefront of where kids will be playing next."
"Fans worldwide are ravenous for esports, both as spectators and players. No one is better than SLG to bring organized amateur esports to the biggest markets in the world," said Dan Mintz, CEO and Co-founder of DMG Entertainment. "We are excited to partner with SLG and expand its footprint globally."
Super League pioneered the way for accessible esports competitions by introducing City Rec and City Champs, establishing the structure and model for amateur esports rooted in one's locality. These city-focused teams mirror the benefits of traditional sports teams and bring gamers together in a way never before possible. The Chicago Force will be defending the title for the second season of League of Legends City Champs, while the reigning Minecraft City Champs are the LA Shockwaves.
"In my career in professional sports, the most exciting thing is the energy and enthusiasm that fans show for their city's teams," said Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Go to any Super League event, and you will see the same energy of players and fans cheering for their city's team that we see in the NHL."
To learn more about Super League Gaming:
- Visit: www.superleague.com
- Like on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SLGFansOfficial
- Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/slgfansofficial
About Super League Gaming
Super League Gaming (www.SuperLeague.com) is the world's first, biggest and most accessible esports league for gamers that takes place both online and in-person gaming arenas. Our community building platform enables unique, local gaming experiences for players around the world of all ages and levels to experience recreational and competitive gaming, content creation and sharing, and social networking. Super League has pioneered city teams in esports tapping into gamers desire for more connectedness and the inherent desire to represent and root for their home team. Our current catalogue focuses on Minecraft and League of Legends and establishes movie theatres as the ultimate arenas to experience some of the world's most popular games in a new and social context. The current offering focuses on amateur esports in local, intimate gaming arenas, but the potential offers and venues are boundless.
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SOURCE Super League Gaming
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