NYXL (company)

NYXL is a collective esports and gaming organization based in New York. Launched under the name Andbox in 2019 by Sterling.VC, an investment fund backed by Sterling Equities, to operate esports franchises New York Excelsior and New York Subliners, it was the first esports organization in New York to span multiple franchises. The organization established two more esports teams by 2021, and in March 2022, it rebranded as NYXL.

NYXL
FormerlyAndbox
TypePrivate
IndustryEsports
FoundedJune 10, 2019
Founders
  • Scott Wilpon
  • Farzam Kamel
  • Rohit Gupta
Headquarters
Manhattan, New York
,
US
Key people
ParentSterling VC
Subsidiaries
Websitenyxl.com

History

Andbox (2019–2022)

In July 2017, video game company Activision Blizzard announced that Jeff Wilpon, co-founder and partner of Sterling.VC, an investment fund backed by Sterling Equities, had purchased a team, later branded as the New York Excelsior, for the upcoming Overwatch League, a professional, city-based, franchised esports league for the video game Overwatch.[2] In May 2019, Activision Blizzard announced that Sterling.VC had purchased the New York franchise slot, with the team later branded the New York Subliners, for Activision Blizzard's second professional, city-based, franchised esports league, the Call of Duty League.[3] To oversee the two franchises, Sterling.VC established New York's first esports organization to span multiple franchises, Andbox, which was unveiled on June 10, 2019 and would be headed by co-founders Scott Wilpon, Farzam Kamel and Rohit Gupta.[4][5][6]

Andbox entered its third esports market in September 2020, signing a Valorant team, which would compete under the Andbox name.[7] In June 2021, the organization partnered with Trovo Mayhem to create a new Call of Duty Mobile team, in which Trovo Mayhem was renamed to NYSL Mayhem.[8] Andbox named A Million Little Pieces author James Frey as its first CEO in January 2022.[9]

NYXL (2022–present)

On March 23, 2022, Andbox rebranded as NYXL. Along with the rebrand, the organization announced that it would be making a seven-figure investment into New York City's gaming community over the coming year, which includes building its headquarters, XLHQ, in Manhattan and establishing a youth training program, YXL.[10] NYXL also rebranded their Valorant team from Andbox to the NY Fury.[11]

References
  1. Wolf, Jacob (February 9, 2020). "Could NYXL's homestands mark the rise of a New York esports renaissance?". ESPN. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. Minotti, Mike (July 12, 2017). "Overwatch League's first 7 teams include New England Patriots, New York Mets owners". Venture Beat. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  3. Murray, Trent (May 2, 2019). "Breaking: First Five Call of Duty League Franchise Owners Revealed". The Esports Observer. Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. Novy-Williams, Eben (June 11, 2019). "New York Mets Owners Create Esports Organization Called Andbox". BloombergQuint. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  5. Hayward, Andrew (June 11, 2019). "New York Excelsior Owner Sterling.VC Launches Andbox Esports Branding". The Esports Observer. Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. "Sterling.VC Announce New Esports Organization Andbox, Parent Company to New York Excelsior and New York Call of Duty Franchise". Andbox. June 10, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. Wolf, Jacob (September 17, 2020). "NYXL, Subliners owners Andbox launch VALORANT team". ESPN. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. Fudge, James (June 24, 2021). "Andbox enters the Call of Duty Mobile esports fray with NYSL Mayhem". The Esports Observer. Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. Hayes, Dade (January 11, 2022). "Author James Frey Writing New Career Chapter As CEO Of NY Esports Organization Andbox". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  10. Maas, Jennifer (March 23, 2020). "Esports Company Andbox Rebrands as NYXL, Pledges 7-Figure Investment Into NYC Gaming Community". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. Scharnagle, Jessica (March 23, 2022). "Esports organization Andbox rebrands to NYXL, invests 7 figures into NYC gaming community". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
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