WeWork is Reportedly Getting Into Esports with Play By We, Which Could Rent Its Offfice Space for Professional Gaming EventsReports also point to two job listings, already available online, for the new business venture.

ByKevin Webb

This story originally appeared onBusiness Insider

Julian Galang/NYXL via BI
New York Excelsior, a professional gaming team, hosts a pop-up shop for fans in New York City.

It looks like we can add professional gaming to the sprawling list of industries that WeWork might be looking to get into.According to a report fromBloomberg'sGillian Tan and Marion Dakers,WeWork trademarked a brand called "Play By We," with a focus on professional gaming and gaming-related events.

The trademark was filed with the United Kingdom's Intellectual Property Office last week, according toBloomberg, and WeWork has already assigned a few staff members for Play By We.

The coworking company also reportedly posted two job listings for Play By We: one for a content and experience manager, and another for a delivery project manager based in New York. The project manager would be responsible for managing architects, designers and construction staff, while the experience manager would keep Play By We engaged with professional gamers, organizations and other industry influencers.

Related:WeWork Files for IPO, Revealing Spiraling Losses of $1.6 Billion

Professional gaming, or esports, is a rapidly growing industry with a constant demand for the flexible event space and access to technology that WeWork could potentially provide -- given its huge real-estate footprint and existing infrastructure for high-speed internet access. Video game companies and event organizers spend millions each year throwing high-profile tournaments, conferences and other private events for esports competitors and fans.

Hypothetically, Play By We could help mold WeWork's coworking properties into specialized video game event centers, for individual events or long-term use. A foray into video games doesn't come as too much of a shock from a company that launched WeGrow, an elementary school, and Rise By We, a spiritual wellness and fitness center -- though it'sbeen gradually unwinding some of those businesses.

To that point, the plans for Play By We were filed as WeWork looks to recover from itsfailed IPO attempt earlier this year.

WeWork began 2019 with a private valuation of $47 billion and its IPO was highly-anticipated. However, WeWork's August S-1 filing revealed that the company had seen mounting losses even as it grew its real-estate portfolio. When the company began its roadshow in September, it struggled to find willing investors.

Media coveragecalling attention to the leadership-style of former WeWork CEO Adam Neumannand his wife and cofounder Rebekah Neumann also damaged the company's image, leading the company to shelve its IPO plans and ultimatelypush both Neumanns out of their leadership roles.

The failed IPO left the company short on cash, and it ultimately agreed to a$9.5 billion bailout from SoftBank,its largest single outside investor. SoftBank has appointed a new chairman to oversee WeWork's recovery, but the company isreportedly considering the layoff thousands of employees.

It's unclear if Play By We will become a reality as WeWork goes through this apparently painful period of internal restructuring, but it's another interesting new twist for a company that still has a lot to prove.

Wavy Line

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Growing a Business

We're Now Finding Out The Damaging Results of The Mandated Return to Office — And It's Worse Than We Thought.

Companies knew the mandated return to the office would cause some attrition, however, they were not prepared for the serious problems that would present.

Business Solutions

Learn to Program an AI Chatbot for Your Business in This $30 Course

Get back-to-school savings on this AI coding course.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

Netflix is Hiring an AI-Focused Role—and the Starting Salary is up to $900,000

The streaming giant is looking for a leader in its machine learning department.

Thought Leaders

Mark Cuban Says These are the Dumbest Things Entrepreneurs Do

Whatever you do, don't do the first thing on this list. Or the second. Definitely not the third.

Leadership

This Common Leadership Habit Will Harm Your Credibility. Are You Guilty of It?

As leaders, we're always looking for ways to build credibility among peers and employees. But this easy-to-make mistake can ruin it in an instant.