- NBA 2K League’s 24th team to join competition in spring 2022
- Gen.G’s Shanghai franchise became league’s first expansion team in 2020
- NBA 2K League and DUX to tap into Mexico’s gaming community through localised content and grassroots events
The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) NBA 2K League esports competition is expanding into Mexico as part of an agreement with Spain-based competitive gaming organisation DUX Gaming.
The partnership will see DUX Gaming launch an expansion team based in Mexico, making it the first NBA 2K League team in Latin America. The city where the team will be based will be announced at a later date.
The purchase price for the franchise slot was US$25 million, according to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ).
The new esports outfit will join the league next season in the spring of 2022 and will become its 24th team and the second expansion team from outside of the US and Canada. In September 2019, Gen.G launched an NBA 2K League team from Shanghai. It was announced this May that the team will be relocating to the University of Kentucky to compete virtually.
Rafael ‘RafaelTGR’ Tobias Garcera Rodrigo, who is a former NBA 2K League Draft prospect and participant in the NBA 2K League European Invitational in 2019, will serve as DUX Gaming’s general manager.
DUX Gaming will participate in the third NBA 2K League expansion draft on 17th November. Additional details about DUX Gaming, including the team name and logo, will be revealed in due course.
The addition of DUX Gaming will also look to build on the NBA’s presence in Mexico and Latin America as the league bids to grow its fan base across the region. Together, the NBA 2K League and DUX Gaming will aim to tap into Mexico’s gaming community through localised content and grassroots events in partnership with DUX Gaming’s roster of talent and social media influencers.
“This is a historic day as we welcome another premier international organisation to the NBA 2K League family,” said NBA 2K League president Brendan Donohue.
“DUX Gaming has a demonstrated track record of growing its fan base in new and creative ways which makes it an ideal partner to help the NBA 2K League successfully expand to Latin America, where basketball and 2K are already incredibly popular. We’re thrilled that DUX Gaming will represent Mexico in the NBA 2K League for years to come.”
Mario Fernández, DUX Gaming’s chief executive, added: “As an organisation established in Europe, it is a true honour to now become the first NBA 2K League team in Latin America.
“We can’t wait to work with Brendan and the entire NBA 2K League team to build our fan base in Mexico and expand their audience to Latin America with the hope that everyone, especially Spanish speakers, will join the infinite club.”
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