Pittsburgh Knights esports franchise adds Mexico-based investors

The Pittsburgh Knights announced this week that the Esports MX LATAM Fund, a Mexico-based group of investors, has invested and partnered with the esports franchise to jointly set up an affiliate esports team organization in Mexico.

The affiliate will be based on the Knights’ organizational and operational model.

“Mexico has a lot to offer in terms of talent and logistics that make this venture an ideal opportunity to build something special for both Mexican and global esports,” said James O’Connor, president of the Knights.

The Knights started in 2017. It has teams that play games such as Super Smash Bros. Melee, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUGB), Fortnite and Call of Duty. The organization is headquartered in Pittsburgh, but its players live and compete all over the world.

It partnered with the Steelers in 2018 and with rapper Wiz Khalifa earlier this year . In February , it received official sponsorship from HyperX, a leader in the professional video game industry that will provide the Knights with gaming headsets, keyboards, mousepads and internal memory products. Partners in the Esports MX LATAM Fund pointed to those partnerships in its decision to invest in the Knights.

“The Knights have proven that they can grow and scale a professional esports organization working with established industry partners and a professional sports organization with much success that will be attractive to our investors who are exploring opportunities to invest in the Mexican esports scene,” said Mark Alazaraki, CEO of Alazraki Networks, one of the key investors and general partners of the fund.

In May , the Knights worked with Point Park University, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Cleveland Cavaliers to hold an esports tournament at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.