A group of Atlanta-based investors have acquired prominent gaming brand Ghost Gaming and plan to relocate the company’s headquarters to Alpharetta from Irvine, California. The move continues to raise Atlanta’s profile as one of the nation’s best cities for esports and gaming.
The ownership group is led by Phoenix Capital Ventures Managing Partner Andrew Steinberg and Skillshot Media CEO Todd Harris. The recent partnership will see Steinberg combine his background working in traditional sports with Harris, who is an expert in the gaming industry and co-founder of Atlanta-based game developer Hi-Rez Studios.
“I can’t stress enough how thrilled we are to bring this phenomenal brand and organization to Atlanta,” said Steinberg, the former chief revenue officer of the Atlanta Hawks. “I’ve spent decades in traditional sports and I’ve never been more excited as I watch esports explode in popularity.… This provides us a multitude of opportunities for brands to work with Ghost to create unique digital experiences and engage millions of people.”
Ghost Gaming, which originally launched in 2017, has a roster of pro esports players across an array of popular games including Rocket League, Fortnite, and Atlanta-based Smite. The players and teams have won more than $2M USD in competitions, according to the company.
“There will always be competitive gaming at its core, but we really want to grow it as a culture and lifestyle brand around gaming,” said Harris. “You’ll see folks involved from the world of music, influencer marketing and will continue to see partnerships that (cater) to gaming lifestyle. I think of Atlanta as the center of culture, with hip-hop being the most prominent example, and we want Ghost to help make Atlanta the center of gaming culture as well.”
Ghost Gaming was quietly acquired for an undisclosed amount back in April. The group of investors includes Blue Mammoth Co-Founder and Managing Partner Matt Woomer, PrizePicks Founder and CEO Adam Wexler, Varsity Spirit Founder and Chairman Jeff Webb, Sidequik Chief Revenue Officer Tree McGlown and Atlanta Placement Music Managing Partner Tammy Hurt.
Harris estimates 15 players and staff members were retained in the deal and projects to add 10 more jobs within the next two years. The organization will temporarily occupy spaces in Alpharetta and Buckhead before selecting its permanent home once the pandemic settles.
This article is an excerpt from a story which first appeared in the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
