The Madison Square Garden Company ACQUIRES CONTROLLING STAKE IN COUNTER LOGIC GAMING
Partnership Adds Iconic Esports Brand to MSG Portfolio – Signals Significant Expansion for MSG in World’s Fastest-Growing Professional Sport
World-Class Esports Organization, CLG, Now Backed by World Leader in Sports and Entertainment with Proven Expertise in Marketing Partnerships, Media Rights, Event Operations, Ticketing, Merchandise and Fan Engagement
New York, NY, July 31, 2017 – The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG) and Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) today announced that MSG has acquired a controlling interest in CLG, a premier North American esports organization with world-class teams and a passionate international fan base. With this partnership, MSG significantly expands its presence in the fast-growing world of esports with one of the most successful organizations in the industry, and CLG gains access to MSG’s unmatched expertise in sports business, including marketing partnerships, media rights, event operations, ticketing, merchandise and fan engagement.
CLG was founded in 2010 by owner George “HotshotGG” Georgallidis, a former star “League of Legends” competitor who remains one of the sport’s most renowned global figures. Georgallidis and CLG will continue to run the day-to-day operations of CLG’s esports teams across several of the most well-known games: “League of Legends,” “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive,” “Overwatch,” “Super Smash Bros.,” and “H1Z1.” CLG has one of the original and preeminent teams in “League of Legends,” making the playoffs in every North American League of Legends Championship Series Spring and Summer Split since the league’s creation, winning the North American Championship title in Summer 2015 and Spring 2016, and four times representing North America in the League of Legends World Championships in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016.
“In 2015, Madison Square Garden hosted the sold-out North American League of Legends Championship Series Summer Finals – a first for The World’s Most Famous Arena, and a sign that esports was ready to command sports’ biggest stage,” said David O’Connor, President and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company. “Since then, as we have been actively exploring opportunities to enhance MSG’s portfolio of live experiences, we have been keenly interested in esports as a natural extension of our core business. The sport now stands on the verge of enormous change, which we believe has the potential to generate significant growth. We are thrilled to be taking this next step with CLG – who won their first North American League of Legends Championship Series on that historic night at The Garden in 2015 – and we look forward to collaborating with these influential trailblazers to build their brand in New York.”
“When CLG won at Madison Square Garden it was a defining moment not only for our team, but also our sport,” said Georgallidis. “It’s still only just the beginning for esports. We can’t wait to bring our teams and players to more fans on the world’s greatest stage. We believe MSG, with its exceptional infrastructure, world-class resources and loyal fan bases, will bring us to the next level of growth and exposure, and ensure we continue to compete at the highest levels.”
“As esports moves toward franchise league models similar to the NBA and NHL, we intend to leverage our knowledge and insight into the business of professional sports to play an active role in the development of this exciting industry,” said Jordan Solomon, Executive Vice President of MSG Sports. “We have incredible respect for George and the championship culture he has built, and look forward to utilizing our expertise in marketing partnerships, live events, and media rights to make CLG the preeminent New York esports franchise poised to thrive not only on the business side, but also in competitive play.”
For MSG, CLG brings top-tier esports teams, millions of dedicated fans across multiple social media and online platforms and significant growth potential. By 2020, the global esports market is projected to be worth $1.5 billion, with a global viewership of 590 million viewers, representing a CAGR of 36% and 20%, respectively, from 2015 (Newzoo). By acquiring CLG, MSG will join other esports teams, video game publishers, and leagues to help influence and shape the future of professional esports.
MSG brings decades of experience in sports team business operations, including proven success in completing valuable marketing partnership and media rights deals, and in effectively creating and operating ticketed events. MSG’s professional sports teams have built a rabid global fan base that will be used, along with other MSG assets -- such as TAO Group’s entertainment dining and nightlife venues and Boston Calling Events’ music festivals -- to promote esports and to grow CLG’s following.
MSG’s world-renowned properties include a collection of iconic venues: Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, California, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Over the past several years MSG’s venues have successfully hosted major esports events including the: 2014 and 2015 ESL One New York (Dota 2 Tournament) at The Theater at Madison Square Garden; 2015 summer League of Legends North American League Championship Series Finals at Madison Square Garden; Call of Duty XP 2016 at the Forum; 2016 League of Legends World Championship Quarterfinals at The Chicago Theatre; 2016 League of Legends World Championship Semifinals at Madison Square Garden; and 2016 The Boston Major (Dota 2 Major Championship) at the Wang Theatre. Additionally, in 2017, MSG announced that the New York Knicks will participate in the inaugural NBA 2K Esports League, set to debut in 2018.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment experiences. The company presents or hosts a broad array of premier events in its diverse collection of iconic venues: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, CA; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston. Other MSG properties include legendary sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA), along with two development league teams -- the Westchester Knicks (NBAGL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). In addition, the Company features popular original entertainment productions -- the Christmas Spectacular and New York Spectacular – both starring the Radio City Rockettes, and through Boston Calling Events, produces outdoor festivals, including New England’s preeminent Boston Calling Music Festival. Also under the MSG umbrella is TAO Group, a world-class hospitality group with globally-recognized entertainment dining and nightlife brands: Tao, Marquee, Lavo, Avenue, The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com
About Counter Logic Gaming:
Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) is a premier North American esports organization known for its passionate fan base and winning culture. Founded originally in 2010 as a League of Legends team by George Georgallidis, it’s now one of the largest esports organizations in the world. CLG fields teams in all leading esports titles: League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., and H1Z1. It is also known for its past success with teams in DOTA 2, Hearthstone, Halo, and Call of Duty. CLG has won multiple championships throughout its history: the LCS Summer 2015 Championship at Madison Square Garden; the LCS Spring 2016 Championship at Mandalay Bay; and the Halo 2016 World Championship in Hollywood, California. More information is available at www.clgaming.net
To the esports community and to our fans,
When I started Counter Logic Gaming years ago, all I wanted to do was build a community. I loved League of Legends, esports, and being able to share that passion with everyone. To be able to see how CLG and esports have grown these years is truly magical. The love of gaming we all share has allowed us to go from filling venues with a hundred people to selling out arenas like Madison Square Garden.
I saw the incredible future of esports looking back at me when I stood on stage at The Garden in 2015. This partnership with The Madison Square Garden Company will allow us to help bring Counter Logic Gaming at the forefront of esports both as a business and sports team. Our new partners have decades of experience within the sports and entertainment industry and being able to learn from them is one of the most compelling draws to the partnership. I am excited to make CLG part of MSG’s sports team family and for us to be able to call MSG home.
MSG shares the same commitment to esports as CLG has had all these years. I’m proud of how far CLG has come, but we’re not here to just be a top esports team - we’re aiming to be the best. This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to take on this next step in esports with all of you.
You’ve stuck with us from the heart attacks of relegations to the sweet taste of victory upon winning championships. No matter what happens, our fans are what makes CLG possible. When I started CLG, I wanted it to be an organization where everyone helped support each other and helped one another grow. That includes everyone from our management, our staff, our players, and our fans - because that is the greatest strength CLG has. Thank you for your continued support, and let’s enter a new age of CLG together.
#CLGFIGHTING
- George "HotshotGG" Georgallidis
