Esports organization Fnatic announced Monday that it has raised over $7 million in financing, with contributions made by owners of the Boston Celtics, Houston Astros and AS Roma. Jim Pallotta, President and co-owner of the Series A football club, and his private investment company Raptor Group, also participated in the round.
The news comes less than two months after AS Roma formed a joint venture with Fnatic where three FIFA esports players would wear jerseys of the Italian football team with a Fnatic logo during competition. In addition, last month, Celtics Managing Partner, Governor and Chief Executive Officer Wyc Grousbeck expressed the team’s interest in gaming, saying “There will be an eCeltics,” which was in reference to the NBA’s 2K eLeague that will debut in 2018.