AEG To Expand Role In Esports By Entering Joint Venture With ESL

Anschutz Entertainment Group "has already hosted sold-out e-sports events in some of the world’s biggest arenas," according to Eben Novy-Williams of BLOOMBERG. Now the company "wants a bigger role in the growing world of competitive video gaming." AEG has entered into a five-year joint venture with ESL, formerly known as the Electronic Sports League, that will give the world’s largest e-sports company access to "the full slate of AEG’s event promotion business, which includes arenas, ticketing and sponsorship sales." AEG Facilities COO Chuck Steedman said, "We are sitting on what we think is the evolution of a new spectator sport. How many times in your lifetime can you say there’s a new spectator sport out there? I don’t think it’s happened in my lifetime." The partnership is "the latest foray into e-sports for a traditional sports-and-entertainment company." WME/IMG and Turner Broadcasting recently created a league and broadcast its season on U.S. cable TV (BLOOMBERG, 9/8).