The Minnesota Timberwolves has made Wisdom Gaming's esports venue at the Mall of America the new home for its esports team.
As part of the new partnership, Timberwolves' esports team, T-Wolves Gaming, will build out a new facility at the esports-focused production company's venue in Bloomington, according to an announcement made Tuesday. The build out is expected to be completed by early February prior to the start of the 2023 season of the NBA 2K League.
Fans will be able to interact with the esports team members at the new facility, which will be “state-of-the-art,” Justin Butler, T-Wolves Gaming general manager and senior vice president of technology at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, said in an emailed statement.
T-Wolves Gaming is one of 25 esports teams competing in the NBA 2K League, which was founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO). During league events, teams compete against each other to win NBA 2K, a basketball video game. T-Wolves Gaming won the 2019 league championship.
The new partnership is intended to bolster growing connections between traditional sports and esports, allowing Timberwolves' audiences to expand their experience in the electronic-sports landscape, the announcement said.
“Partnering with the Timberwolves allows us to continue building out communities and creating inclusive spaces within esports and gaming,” Steve LaCroix, president of Wisdom Gaming, said in an emailed statement.
Earlier this year, Wisdom opened its 18,000-square-foot esports venue and broadcast studio on the fourth floor of the Mall of America. The spot is the home base for the company’s professional esports organization, Torrent, and the Minnesota Varsity League, a high school esports provider.
Wisdom was founded in 2019 by Mike Zweigbaum, Blake Baratz and T.J. McLeod. Public filings released this fall showed the company received nearly $14.9 million from dozens of investors.
This summer, the company said it was poised for growth as it expands its offerings and partnerships, when it announced a new division focused on blockchain integrations.
Wisdom’s work with the Timberwolves is just the latest of other recent notable partnerships, including with the Minnesota Twins and League of Legends video game developer Riot Games.
Exclusive T-Wolves Gaming merchandise will be available at Wisdom's retail store, called Side Quest, at its venue at the Mall of America.
T-Wolves Gaming’s former practice facility at Mayo Clinic Square in Minneapolis has been converted into office space and is still with the Timberwolves and Lynx, Butler said.
