Adelaide has further strengthened its football-first strategy by finalising the sale of its last esports asset.
The Crows have sold the META platform, which enables high school students to compete in esports competitions across Australia and New Zealand, to advisory and investment firm Guinevere Capital.
Established in 2017, META has been a profitable and award-winning enterprise, and it was the Club’s last remaining link to the online gaming industry.
Crows CEO Tim Silvers said the Club arrived at the decision to sell the platform during a recent review of its operations, which was prompted by the global pandemic, and subsequent sale of its esports team, Legacy.
“As we have previously outlined, our priorities and strategic agenda have shifted and we have a clear football-first focus,” Silvers said.
“Right now we want to see our men’s team back playing finals, sustained on-field AFLW success and an enhanced connection with Crows members and supporters.
“We also have other significant projects, most notably our push to build a new world class administration, high performance and community facility.
“The Australian sporting landscape is now very different to what it once was and while there is still a great deal of work to be done, we are well positioned to thrive now and into the future.”
Guinevere Capital Esports & Entertainment Managing Director, Dave Harris stated that META is an important part of the region’s esports ecosystem and would fit well with the existing Guinevere portfolio.
“Guinevere has a history of building pathways for fan and talent development in the esports and gaming sector. The META acquisition fits well with other projects and companies across the portfolio, providing a platform that now spans from grass roots through to professional play.” Harris said.
“The acquisition allows Guinevere to maintain and grow its position as a trusted partner of various game publishers and prove concepts in Australia and New Zealand which can be exported onto the global stage.
“Adelaide Football Club has created a fantastic foundation with many schools and universities signing up to META leagues and events, supported by both brands and government funding. Guinevere is looking forward to working with the existing META team to grow the core business and bring in broader opportunities.
“The success of the recent League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO) Finals and broader DreamHack event shows the passion for esports in this region, and supporting the industry in schools and universities will amplify its future growth.”
