ExclusiveTeam BDS: "The potential of esports is underestimated" (Baptiste Huriez)

"When I see the money invested in women's teams, even if I understand the importance, I think that the potential of esports is underestimated. In proportion to the investment made, esports can bring at least as much, if not more than a women's football team in terms of business, image, diversification of the targets reached, etc.," said Baptiste Huriez, director of communication and digital for the esports organisation Team BDS, to News Tank Football on 04/05/2023.

The Swiss club founded in 2019 has six teams, including a squad that has been playing at the highest European level of League of Legends (LEC) since 2022 after buying FC Schalke 04 Esports' slot for €26.5m (on 29/06/2021).

"The purchase of FC Schalke 04 Esports' slot in the LEC, a closed European league, has taken Team BDS into another dimension. The club has entered one of the biggest esports competitions in the world. As far as our place in the LEC is concerned, such an asset is currently worth between €40 and €50m. Financially, the purchase of Schalke's place was therefore a good investment as it has already increased…