David Beckham’s Guild Esports to float on London stock market

Guild Esports will be the first in the UK to offer fans the chance to put money into backing its teams of gamers.

Esports, where spectators watch players video gaming, has seen its popularity rise even further during lockdown.

The company plans to field teams in global online games Fortnite, CS:Go, Rocket League and Fifa.

It wants to build up its teams’ skills using systems similar to the Premier League’s talent academics.

Prize and sponsorship money for e-sports run in the millions and audiences run to more than 100 million for some events, outstripping those for major sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Tour de France.

Guild Esports said that by 2019, esports had a total of 443 million viewers, and the market is projected to grow to 646 million viewers by 2023.

‘Global influence’

The shares will initially be offered to large investors next month, but afterwards will trade freely on the stock market where anyone can buy them.

Money raised from the initial share placing will be used to expand the business, including recruiting new players.

The investment further extends David Beckham’s wide-ranging business interests, which include fashion, fragrance, whisky and his own football club in Florida.

The company said he would use his “global influence and following to support the development of the company’s brand and business”.

He is one of the founding shareholders in Guild Esports, and has what is described as a “significant minority stake in the business”, although the exact investment is not revealed.

Beckham is not the first footballer to spot the potential opportunities in esport. Wales and Real Madrid player Gareth Bale launched his esports organisation, Ellevens Esports, earlier this year.

Carleton Curtis, the executive chairman of Guild Esports, said: “Guild will be the first esports franchise to join the London stock market.

“It will provide us with the cache, credibility and capital to fulfil our ambition to become one of the world’s top 10 esports franchises within three years.”