• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
eSports

The New York Yankees Are Investing in Competitive Video Gaming With Vision Esports

By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 19, 2017, 12:38 PM ET

The New York Yankees are the latest professional team to dive into the world of competitive video gaming.

One of the world’s most recognizable sports franchises is investing in the fast-growing esports industry, as the Yankees said on Thursday that the team is partnering with Vision Esports, an investment vehicle that includes Echo Fox, the professional esports team owned by former NBA player Rick Fox. The Yankees did not disclose financial terms of the investment, but the deal gives the baseball franchise a stake in Echo Fox as well as the Vision Esports-owned Twin Galaxies, which compiles gaming statistics and rankings, and esports video production company Vision Entertainment.

Yankees co-chair Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement that the team is “thrilled to partner with Vision Esports.”

“We look forward to exploring synergies between the Yankees and all of our portfolio companies to maximize the opportunity for a successful esports ecosystem for teams, players, and fans,” Stratton Sclavos, General Partner of Vision Esports said in a statement.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Echo Fox is expected to be one of the 10 teams to be granted franchise ownership in Riot Games’ North American League of Legends Championship Series, a high-profile esports league that requires a reported $10 million buy-in for each ownership slot for the upcoming 2018 season. In addition to Riot’s League of Legends game, Echo Fox also fields teams that compete in gaming tournaments based around titles such as Activision’s Call of Duty, Capcom’s Street Fighter V, and Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros.

The Yankees are just the latest major professional sports franchise to bet on the burgeoning esports industry, which is expected to reach $1.5 billion in annual revenue by 2020, according to one estimate. On Thursday, ESPN reported that the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers also landed a spot in Riot’s North American League of Legends Championship Series, while the Philadelphia 76ers acquired two esports teams in 2016. Other professional team owners such as the New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft and New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon also own esports teams that compete in Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch League.

About the Author
By Tom Huddleston Jr.
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Google Cloud’s next big moment—and what it needs to continue its ascent
AIGoogle
Google Cloud’s next big moment—and what it needs to continue its ascent
By Alex Kantrowitz, Marty Swant and Big TechnologyApril 21, 2026
39 minutes ago
The tables have turned: Florida and Texas are the biggest losers in the housing market as Ohio emerges as a surprise winner
Real EstateHousing
The tables have turned: Florida and Texas are the biggest losers in the housing market as Ohio emerges as a surprise winner
By Sydney LakeApril 21, 2026
57 minutes ago
trump
EconomyWhite House
‘I thought the oil would be much higher’: Trump’s rosy Iran war spin risks sending traders the wrong message
By Nick LichtenbergApril 21, 2026
1 hour ago
A soybean farmer inspects his crops in Maryland
Environmentfarming
Tariffs, war, and now a historic drought have converged into a ‘perfect storm’ for U.S. farmers and food prices
By Tristan BoveApril 21, 2026
1 hour ago
The inside of a data center in Ashburn, VA.
EnvironmentData centers
Data centers are dealing hidden damage to environmental and public health—costing the economy $25 billion every year
By Tristan BoveApril 21, 2026
1 hour ago
Photo of Donald Trump
PoliticsDonald Trump
Trump officials whisper that his Truth Social posts about Iran risk killing peace talks
By Jake AngeloApril 21, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

$166 billion in tariff refunds just became available, but small businesses may already be at a disadvantage
Law
$166 billion in tariff refunds just became available, but small businesses may already be at a disadvantage
By Sasha RogelbergApril 20, 2026
21 hours ago
Jeff Bezos once gave Eva Longoria and the admiral behind Osama bin Laden's capture $100 million—but she says you don't need wealth to give back
Success
Jeff Bezos once gave Eva Longoria and the admiral behind Osama bin Laden's capture $100 million—but she says you don't need wealth to give back
By Orianna Rosa RoyleApril 21, 2026
12 hours ago
This talent CEO says laid-off tech workers are ignoring a $300K ‘white-collar trade job’ with 81K openings a year
Economy
This talent CEO says laid-off tech workers are ignoring a $300K ‘white-collar trade job’ with 81K openings a year
By Jake AngeloApril 20, 2026
1 day ago
Meet John Ternus, the 51-year-old former swimming champ who will succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO
Big Tech
Meet John Ternus, the 51-year-old former swimming champ who will succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO
By Dave Smith and Fortune EditorsApril 20, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, April 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, April 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerApril 20, 2026
1 day ago
Thousands of CEOs admit AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago
AI
Thousands of CEOs admit AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago
By Sasha RogelbergApril 19, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.