Karmine Corp, one of the the most popular esports organisations in France, is in advanced discussions to launch its own basketball team.
According to information from French sports publication L’Equipe. The organisation is looking to partner with RAC Basket de Rueil-Malmaison, as well as local authorities Grand Paris Sud and Évry-Courcouronnes. The move would mark the first time Karmine Corp has expanded beyond esports into traditional sports.
The negotiations, which have reportedly been underway for several months with the National Basketball League, would see Karmine Corp enter the French basketball scene through a partnership with RAC Basket Rueil-Malmaison, currently playing in Nationale 2 – the fourth tier of French basketball. The Rueil club was competing in Nationale 1, the third tier and last remaining professional division, until last year when it suffered relegation for sporting reasons following the cessation of subsidies from the city council.
Olivier Gagneau, President of RAC Basket, confirmed the discussions to L’Equipe: “Karmine Corp, Évry and Grand Paris Sud have indeed initiated discussions with us to launch a large-scale project. We are in favour and discussions are ongoing but not yet finalised.”
When contacted by L’Equipe, Karmine Corp confirmed “positive discussions and a shared desire to make the leap from esports to traditional sports for the first time,” while emphasising that “nothing is finalised.” Stéphane Beaudet, Mayor of Évry-Courcouronnes, described the discussions as “constructive.”
The potential move into basketball would leverage Karmine Corp’s existing relationship with local authorities. The organisation already has a four-way partnership with Grand Paris Sud and Évry-Courcouronnes as a resident club at the Arènes arena, where Karmine Corp recently played its first match at the Évry-Courcouronnes to a sell-out crowd of 3,000 fans.
Follow The Esports Radar on social media:
