Beasley Buys Overwatch League's Houston Outlaws

Bought By Beasley

BEASLEY BROADCAST GROUP has purchased the OVERWATCH LEAGUE's HOUSTON OUTLAWS from IMMORTALS GAMING CLUB for an undisclosed price. BEASLEY said in a press release that the esports franchise will remain officially based in HOUSTON; the company previously invested in the TEAM RENEGADES esports group in DETROIT and the CHECKPOINTXP syndicated esports rado show.

CEO CAROLINE BEASLEY said, “The acquisition of the HOUSTON OUTLAWS significantly expands our growing esports platform. The HOUSTON OUTLAWS represent a rare investment opportunity, as there are only 20 OVERWATCH LEAGUE teams in the world, and the transaction partners BEASLEY with BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT and its parent company, ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, a leading global developer and publisher of interactive entertainment content and services.

“BEASLEY is very excited to expand its operations to HOUSTON, which is home to one of the largest esports fan bases in the US. Our growing esports infrastructure and management combined with our experience with TEAM RENEGADES, success in hosting and promoting large events and our national esports content hub -- BEASLEYXP -- are key factors in our expectations for long-term returns from this investment. We look forward to initial contributions from this exciting development when the league’s third season begins in FEBRUARY.

“The acquisition of the HOUSTON OUTLAWS furthers our revenue and cash flow diversification strategies. We believe the power of our media footprint, including 65 highly-rated radio stations in large- and mid-sized markets, combined with our 24/7 coverage of esports news, will allow us to build the value of the OUTLAWS franchise through a range of revenue sources, including ticket sales, advertising, sponsorship, licensing, e-commerce, and other partnerships.

“This opportunity is another meaningful step forward as we expand Beasley’s involvement in esports, one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment in the US and the world. We look forward to realizing the strategic benefits of the HOUSTON OUTLAWS transaction in 2020 as we continue to advance BEASLEYXP’s esports initiatives focused on leveraging our premium content and brands across all platforms. We believe this approach will enable us to deliver great local, national, and global content, while creating an even stronger marketing platform for advertisers and enhancing shareholder value.”

“The HOUSTON OUTLAWS have a fantastic new ownership team and we’re excited to welcome the BEASLEY MEDIA GROUP to the OVERWATCH LEAGUE,” said ACTIVISION BLIZZARD ESPORTS President/CEO and OVERWATCH LEAGUE Commissioner PETE VLASTELICA. “We look forward to working with them and ensuring a smooth transition for the team, the players, and the fans. OUTLAWS fans are incredibly passionate and 2020 is going to be an exciting year for the entire league.”

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