• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

Dignitas Looks To Level Up With Capital Raise, New Parent Company

Aug 24, 2019; Detroit, MI, USA; Clutch Gaming and Counter Logic Gaming compete during the LCS Summer Finals event at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
dignitas series A new meta entertainment
Photo Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Dignitas, one of the longest standing esports organizations, is using a new round of funding to form a new parent company helping it invest further into sports and entertainment.

The organization, which was founded back in 2003, was acquired in September 2016 by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, who also owns and operates the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers, among other investments.

In June 2019, Dignitas merged with Clutch Gaming, an esports team owned by Fertitta Entertainment, which is led by Tilman Fertitta. That organization had previously acquired a franchise spot in League of Legends League Championship Series.

HBSE and Fertitta Entertainment led the Series A funding round, which raised $30 million. Other investors included Delaware North, Susquehanna Private Equity Investments and music industry executive Steven Rifkind.

As a result, a new parent company was formed – New Meta Entertainment. Michael Prindiville, who previously served as CEO of Dignitas, was named the NME’s CEO.

“Looking at this space, we think it’s bigger than just esports; it’s esports, it’s gaming, it’s entertainment, it’s music, and so on,” Prindiville said. “We felt there was an opportunity to build a digital sports and entertainment company that would complement the existing esports team, while also building around a content platform that centered on the confluence on gaming, sports, and music.”

Prindiville said that NME will focus on what he said are three “complementary and integrated businesses;” the esports teams playing under the Dignitas banner, a content and marketing business and an investment arm.

On the esports front, Dignitas has teams in games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League, among others. Clutch Gaming’s League of Legends’ team, which recently qualified for the game’s world championships, will rebrand as Dignitas starting in 2020. Dignitas also recently announced its plan to field a men’s team in CS:GO – it currently only has a woman’s team in the game.

Prindiville said with League of Legends and Counter-Strike covered, the organization sees an opportunity to perhaps add a team in other games, as well as expand into markets such as Europe, Brazil or China.

In June, Dignitas opened a new 3,000-square-foot gaming and content production studio in Newark, New Jersey adjacent to the Prudential Center, which HSBE also owns. The organization is also currently planning to build a similar facility in Los Angeles that will open next year.

READ MORE: Esports Fashion Levels Up as Esports Continue into Mainstream

Prindiville said those spaces will be crucial to the organization’s new content and marketing business, which will aim to work with influencers across gaming, sports, music and broader pop culture to produce projects and further monetize their respective brands.

A good example of how that would come to life is the Backstreet Boys’ recent tour stop at the Prudential Center. Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter is a huge fan of the game Counter-Strike – Dignitas and Prindiville arranged for him to go to the organization’s content studio before the concert, where he faced off in the game against one of the organization’s female Counter-Strike players.

“It’s about an hour or two before he’s scheduled to go on stage, and he’s here in the facility playing Counter-Strike for 45 minutes,” Prindiville said. “Between all of the events that come through the Prudential Center, as well as other influencers we can bring in, we think there are several opportunities where we can produce premium content.”

That effort will be further expanded thanks to the new investment from Delaware North, who in addition to owning and operating TD Garden in Boston also operates food, beverage and/or retail operations in more than 50 professional sports venues. Tilman Fertitta also owns and operates the Toyota Center in Houston where the Rockets play.

Prindiville said there have been discussions regarding how the new organization can potentially utilize the infrastructure owned and operated by its fellow partners.

Lastly, NME will also be launching an investment arm, looking to provide growth capital to companies in the digital sports and entertainment space. Prindiville said the company will be looking at investments in the gaming, esports and entertainment space.

It currently has one active investment – U.GG, a League of Legends coaching platform that was incubated at the HBSE-owned Sixers Innovation Lab.

READ MORE: Allied Esports Sees Major Opportunity in Entertainment Side of Esports

Prindiville said the investment raised for the new company will be split across the three different efforts. He said the company views itself as “well-capitalized” and said there has not been a process of its next capital raise, although he didn’t rule out bringing on additional investors that could help scale its overall business.

“At this point, we’re no longer a fledgling company – we see this as a jet that can be flying on its own,” Prindiville said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sponsored

Top Esports Athletes Will Compete for National Glory in the Esports Nations..

The new biennial event, starting in 2026, kicks off a monumental next era for esports.
Oct 27, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of the Wells Fargo Center before game between Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

New Philly Arena Will Redefine Home-Court Advantage, CEO Says

The forthcoming venue will arrive with plenty of ambition among its owners.

As NBA Salary Cap Rises, Role Players Are Getting $100M+ Deals

The salary cap has increased by 10% in three of four seasons.
Apr 26, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) before game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

Rockets Get $20 Million in Wiggle Room From New VanVleet Deal

VanVleet first signed with the Rockets in 2023.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.

Thunder Favored, but Bettors Backing Pacers Big in NBA Finals

The most bet-on exact series outcome is the Thunder winning in five.
Fanduel
March 4, 2025

FanDuel Retains Sports Betting Crown With $14B in 2024 Revenue

The FanDuel parent company posts big increases in revenue and net income.
May 8, 2025

FanDuel Misses Projections As Betting Favorites Dominate 

FanDuel is hit by customer-friendly betting outcomes during March Madness.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
February 20, 2025

Americans Bet $148 Billion on Sports in 2024, Up 23.6%

Both overall handle and revenue rose by more than 20% last year.
DraftKings app
February 14, 2025

Lawsuit Says DraftKings VIP Program ‘Preyed On’ Gambling Addicts

The company’s being sued for negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
August 20, 2024

Beloved ‘Backyard Sports’ Brand Says It Will Relaunch After Decade Hiatus

“Backyard Baseball” was a turn-of-the-century computer hit. 
DraftKings
August 2, 2024

DraftKings Announces Consumer Tax Starting Next Year

The company’s stock fell 5% Friday morning.