North American organisation Pittsburgh Knights has announced investment from NHL player Evgeni Malkin.
The Russian hockey player, who competes for the Pittsburgh Penguins, has invested an undisclosed amount into the organisation.
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James O’Connor, President of Pittsburgh Knights discussed the investment in a release: “Our goal at the Knights is not only to be a great esports team but to build something innovative and unifying for our city. We know that, as a Pittsburgh organization, we have an amazing sports and entertainment legacy to live up to. We’re really excited for the team we’ve put together behind the scenes, first with the Steelers and Wiz Khalifa, and now with Malkin. His work with the Pittsburgh Penguins has shown the whole world what a smart and dedicated athlete he is, and we’re thrilled to have his support.”
Rob Lee, former CEO and Co-founder of the organisation, transitioned to become its Chief Gaming Officer in late September. Just a month prior, it received investment from Esports MX LATAM Fund, an investment group based in Mexico.
RELATED: Pittsburgh Knights receives investment from Esports MX LATAM Fund
Malkin joins NFL side Pittsburgh Steelers as an investor in Pittsburgh Knights. The organisation is partnered with Wiz Khalifa, Zoomph, SmileDirectClub, Sheetz, HyperX, ReplayFX, and Totino’s.
Esports Insider says: There’s no word on whether Malkin will be involved in Pittsburgh Knights beyond investing and staying in the background, which would be a missed opportunity if that’s the case. Getting celebrities and athletes involved in your organisation provides a wealth of opportunities for advertisement and activations beyond word of them being an investor.