The Overwatch League franchise Houston Outlaws has appointed Chris DeAppolonio as their president. DeAppolonio transitioned to his new role from a former Infinite Esports & Entertainment role as Executive Vice President of Partnerships. As President of Houston Outlaws, DeAppolonio will run operations for the business throughout the 2020 season.
Chris DeAppolonio as president
“Having previously worked on the Outlaws brand and with the players and staff, I have great relationships in place and know we have a very bright future,” wrote DeAppolonio. “The Outlaws have some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the league; and I look forward to engaging with and growing that fan base. I am also excited to continue my work with our terrific, supportive brand partners.”
Along with leading all operations for the Outlaws, DeAppolonio will expand the brand in the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio markets. This new push is in preparation for the increase in home games during the 2020 season.
Chris DeAppolonio previously worked as the President of Triggerfish, a subsidiary of Infinite Esports & Entertainment. He also had roles with Genesco Sports Enterprises, Jack Morton Worldwide, and the Major League Baseball organization. DeAppolonio attended Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He then went on to do his Masters at New York University in Sports Business. His Masters thesis in 2008 was titled, “Playing with the Big Boys: The Rise of Professional Gaming.”
Houston Outlaws
The Houston Outlaws were previously owned by Infinite, but they have changed hands since Immortals Gaming Club acquired the organization. Because an organization can only own one Overwatch League franchise at a time, Activision Blizzard informed Immortals that they had to sell the Houston franchise. The Immortals Gaming Club already operates the Los Angeles Valiant team.
Because of this, we’ve seen reports that Immortals will divest the esports organization to Houston-based real estate owner Lee Zieben. They will likely finalize this deal during the end of August. The franchise should sell for a total of $40 million.
Are you a fan of the Houston Outlaws Overwatch League franchise? What changes do you think will be made under the new ownership? Let us know in the comments, and keep up with all of the latest Overwatch news and content here at Daily Esports.
