AFL club Adelaide Crows have purchased the Adelaide Bite baseball franchise, hoping to leverage the sport for exposure through Asia and the US.
The Crows recently bought an esports (electronic sports) team and is now taking sole ownership of an Australian Baseball League club, want to continue to broaden their operations.
"Baseball is a proven and popular sport in the United States and Asia, and it expands our brand and footprint offshore," Crows chairman Rob Chapman said.
"Our board and senior management have a clear focus on building sustained success both on and off the field in a sports and entertainment landscape that is becoming increasingly competitive.
"Baseball Australia fielded significant interest for licenses from throughout Australia and overseas, and we are appreciative of their recognition of both our organisational capability and the importance of Adelaide continuing to be represented at the highest level of baseball in this country."
The revamped ABL will feature teams from Australia, as well as Korea and New Zealand.
Crows CEO Andrew Fagan is hoping their acquisition opens doors for the organisation.
"It is important to note that this is about growth, for both the Crows and the Bite, and our existing operations will continue unaffected and as per normal," Fagan said.
"The restructured and improved national league creates an opportunity for considerable broadcast reach into Asia, not just for the Bite but for our state more broadly as well."
