The Philadelphia 76ers have announced it has purchased eSports teams Dignitas and Apex, making it the first professional sports team in North America to own an eSports team.

Dignitas has been in the eSports game for a long time, which is why Apex will now operate under its name given the team is relatively new to the eSports world. The teams were purchased from its previous owners, Michael O’Dell and David Slan, respectively.

The combined organizations will create a powerhouse competitor in the booming business of Esports; bringing under one roof Team Apex's wildly popular League of Legends team with other standout games including Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Heroes of the Storm, and Smite," the 76ers shared in a statement sent to Shacknews. "This marks the first time an ownership group of a North American sports franchise has acquired an Esports team; the group will utilize their business expertise and vast resources to bring infrastructure and alignment to position these Esports teams for future growth."

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, although 76ers managing general partner Josh Harris admitted the competitive gaming scene was “primed for incredible growth.”

"We are thrilled to become an owner of such a storied franchise as Team Dignitas," Harris tells Shacknews. "There is a tremendous opportunity to leverage the infrastructure, resources, and experience of the Sixers organization to support these exciting teams as they continue to compete at the highest levels across multiple games."