Vindex has acquired the Belong Gaming Arenas brand and all associated IP from Game Digital, the largest video games retailer in the UK and Spain.
Mike Sepso and Sundance DiGiovanni were ahead in their time once they began the esports event corporate Primary League Gaming in 2002. Now they are on to a second act with Vindex, an esports funding conserving corporate, and also obtained the Belong Gaming Arenas emblem from U.Ok. store Recreation.
Esports is the fastest growing sport in the world and we have seen this passion for gaming through the rollout of the Belong business in the UK. We are thrilled to be partnering with Vindex’s proven management team to fortify and expand the Belong community in our current locations and globally.
Ray Kavanagh, CFO of GAME Digital
Belong Gaming will partner with Esports Engine, a Vindex company, to provide turnkey amateur esports league design, operations, and tournaments through Vindex’s powerful software platform that will power Belong Arenas and connect all of its global members. Vindex plans to invest $300 million over the next five years to open more than 500 Belong locations in the US and an additional 1,000 locations globally through licensed operating partners including GAME.
Martyn Gibbs, CEO of GAME Digital and video game industry veteran, will join the Vindex management team as CEO of Belong Gaming to oversee the immediate US rollout and initiate a global expansion strategy. GAME will continue to operate all UK locations as an officially licensed operator.
The acquisition of Belong and Martyn’s leadership will allow us to bring the professional esports experience to casual and amateur players in their hometowns across the country and around the world, connecting more players everywhere at a time when communities truly need to be closer together.
Mike Sepso, CEO of Vindex
In fact, the harsh phase is that most of the people can’t trip at the moment as a result of the pandemic. However, Sepso is making a bet that the places will in the end open, and he believes now is a superb time to put the groundwork.
Vindex has also established long term partnerships with esports organizations – Envy Gaming of Dallas, the largest esports company in Texas, and Andbox, New York’s first esports organization. Vindex will open multiple locations throughout each organization’s Home Market Areas, including co-branded flagship locations in New York City and North Texas, that will provide both organizations and their fans with a best-in-class local esports ecosystem. These locations will feature exclusive tournaments, leagues, team appearances, and robust, market-exclusive consumer product retail programs.
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