Andbox, a new eSports league, has been announced by an investment fund backed by the owners of the New York Mets.
Andbox will include teams in professional video-game leagues for the Activision Blizzard Inc. games Overwatch and Call of Duty. The league plans to hold eSports events in the New York area.
The group was launched by Sterling.VC, an early-stage investment fund backed by Sterling Equities—the family office owned by the Wilpon and Katz families. Sterling’s assets include the Mets and Sportsnet New York, a regional sports network, according to Bloomberg News.
“Being at the forefront of gaming in New York is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Scott Wilpon, an Andbox co-founder and Sterling.VC partner in a press release. “We are excited by all of the possibilities Andbox unlocks to represent New York in the world’s preeminent esports leagues, and we’re continually on the lookout for new opportunities that resonate with gamers both locally and globally.”
The release said the name refers to the term “sandbox,” used in gaming and software development to describe an environment where new concepts are tested. Sterling.VC did not put a value on the league or disclose its investment.
Sterling.VC bought the Overwatch League’s New York franchise back in 2017 for a $20 million commitment. All Overwatch League teams have been based in Los Angeles, but they’ll move to their assigned cities starting next year, the release said.’
Wilpon said the group is currently evaluating its options regarding where it will hold home games once the team is based in New York.
Earlier this year, Sterling also bought into the upcoming Call of Duty league, with franchises selling for a reported $25 million. It’s unclear when that league will begin operations, Bloomberg reported.
In another story, the amateur eSports platform Super League Gaming Inc. has acquired social video network Framerate for $ 2.5 million in cash and stock, according to a corporate filing.
It is the first acquisition for Super League since going public in February.
Framerate “will be fully integrated into Super League, instantly expanding our audience reach, creating more awareness for our live and digital experiences and becoming a foundational component of Super League’s content distribution network,” Super League’s chief executive, Ann Hand, said in a statement to Reuters.
Super League, which was founded in 2014, is aimed at amateur level players. It runs tournaments and community building events.
