Amodei Group Acquires 51% of PG Esports

The Amodei Group has announced the acquisition of a 51% controlling stake in PG Esports from Fandango Club. The acquisition will mark Amodei’s first official outing into professional esports, as the group has set its sights on growing the fledgling Italian esports market.

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Amodei Group is best known as the publisher of Corriere dello Sport-Stadio and Tuttosport, two of Italy’s arguably biggest sports newspapers. With roughly 1.4 million fans and a competitive scene still in its early beginnings, Italy has remained a relatively untapped market for the esports industry. Numbers have lately shown a steady increase in growth of about 22% annually, as Amodei Group tries to bridge the gap between the traditional and modern.

“We have always been publishers but above all we are passionate about sports in all its forms. For almost 100 years, our brands have been telling the emotions of sport to Italians, from father to son. Esports represent a growing reality that deserves respect and attention. The new generations follow new trends. We will be there, ready to listen, tell and give space to this new reality on our sites, on social networks, in events and in our newspapers. We are absolutely convinced that this can make the esports movement in Italy understand and grow and can offer the communication market, with the Sport Network concessionaire, the most structured and complete tool to reach the Millennials and Generation Z. ”, stated Roberto Amodei.

PG Esports on the other hand has emerged as the single biggest broadcaster and tournament organizer in Italy. Apart from being the official broadcast partners for Riot Games, the company has been the official tournament organizer for League of Legends, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Fortnite among other games.

PG Nationals LoL
Image Credits | Riot Games

Despite a fairly rough 2020 for esports in general, PG Esports has had a fairly successful year. The company’s PG Nationals di League of Legends drew a total audience of 2.5 million spectators and more than 275,000 hours watched, becoming the most-watched Italian tournament on Twitch in history.

“The agreement between the Amodei Group and PG Esports aims to grow the Italian export ecosystem in all its aspects, from the expansion of the fan base and the number of active championships to the qualitative and quantitative extension of the whole the sector’s supply chain through the development of gaming programs capable of involving players of all competitive levels and offering the public a schedule of live events, online tournaments and on-site activations capable of creating a unique immersive atmosphere “, said Pierluigi Parnofiello, Founder and CEO of PG Esports.

With the change in ownership, the Amodei Group now has a 51% controlling stake in PG, 34% of the shares remain in the hands of Fandango Club, while 15% remain owned by the company’s founder Pierluigi Parnofiello.

PG Esports will retain its headquarters on the Fandango Club campus where its production and casting studios are currently located. It should also be noted that Fandango Club partially owns Milan Games Week, the biggest gaming event in Italy currently.

With such strong backing, the future for Italian esports is looking brighter than ever. Although the scene is still in its infancy, it may only be a matter of time before Italy catches up with its European counterparts.

Admir Mujacic
Admir Mujacic

Since: September 28, 2020

An esport writer with a huge passion for Dota 2, CS:GO and basketball. Self-proclaimed number #1 J. Cole superfan.

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