Team Dignitas, the esports organization owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, has signed the world champion Rocket League team and is planning other major changes under a new CEO. New CEO Michael Prindiville yesterday said he is also considering a “brand update” that could -- but not necessarily -- replace the name Dignitas altogether, an application for Riot Games’ European League Championship Series and a relocation to L.A. The 76ers in September '16 became the first U.S. sports franchise to acquire an esports organization with its acquisition of Dignitas and another team it consolidated under the brand. Since then, many others have jumped into esports and Dignitas has lost influence, having lost its spot in the North American League Championship Series and the top tier "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive" league. Prindiville, who started May 7 with Dignitas after time developing NBC Sports’ esports business, has signed three European Rocket League players who previously played for the Gale Force organization. They won the Rocket League Championship Series as Gale Force last year. Dignitas is in the process of divesting its second-division Rocket League team it acquired in January, he said.
MORE FRANCHISE BIDS COMING? Prindiville said Dignitas is doing a “tremendous amount of due diligence” around applying for a spot in the EU LCS, but also suggested other possible franchise bids. “Any time there is a franchise league with global appeal and an innovate publisher who has an authentic relationship with fans, that’s a league we’ll be taking a serious look at and we’ll continue to evaluate it in coming months,” Prindiville said. The Overwatch League is the only other esports league with available permanent franchise spots. Prindiville said he believes Rocket League is a big enough title to be the centerpiece of the Dignitas brand in the same way a "League of Legends" team would be. A physical relocation of the Dignitas operations would be considered, but officials will balance the benefits of being close to the esports world in L.A. versus having the resources of HSBE close at hand in Philadelphia. Prindiville was hired to replace former CEO Jonathan Kemp, who left earlier this year.
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