With the NBA 2K League recently finishing its first season, and with MLS also being in the e-sports industry, questions remain as to whether other major sports leagues will join them. We might get some clarity on that tomorrow, as MLB is expected to make a major announcement regarding its future with sports gaming.
Will there be a MLB E-League?
On Monday, ESPN’s David Purdum broke on Twitter that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will hold a press conference on Tuesday with regards to a “major sports gaming announcement”
Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred will be making a "major sports gaming announcement" 3 p.m., Tuesday in New York City.
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) November 26, 2018
What’s interesting about the news is that the tweet is very vague in nature. The way Purdum worded it, it seems very possible that Major League Baseball will be joining the MLS and NBA and getting into the e-sports industry.
It could also mean that MLB will be announcing a sponsorship deal with a sportsbook now that gambling has been approved by the U.S. Supreme Court, and legalized in several states. The NBA and NHL have both signed agreements with MGM, and MLB may very well be doing the same.
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UPDATE: MLB will indeed be signing a sponsorship deal with MGM Resorts, as reported by Eric Fisher of the Sports Business Journal:
So as expected, MLB has aligned with @MGMResortsIntl on an official gaming partnership. $ https://t.co/iBZgFPB20U pic.twitter.com/iC9FzYyiYX
— Eric Fisher (@AEricFisher) November 27, 2018
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