Complexity Gaming
American esports franchise with teams in numerous competitive games.
Complexity Gaming is an American esports franchise based in Frisco, Texas, founded in 2003 by Jason Lake. It was co-owned by real estate investor John Goff and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after their 2017 purchase, and operates out of the Legion by Lenovo Esports Center. The franchise fields teams in multiple games including Apex Legends, FIFA, Fortnite, Halo Infinite, Hearthstone, Madden, Magic: The Gathering Arena, and Rocket League.
Quick Facts
- Short name
- COL
- City
- Frisco, Texas
- Location
- United States
- Owner
- Jason Lake (2003–17)
- John Goff (2017-24)
- Jerry Jones (2017-24)
- Global Esports Properties (2024–present)
- Founded
- 2003
Facts from the source article.
History
Complexity Gaming was founded in 2003 when Jason Lake, a real estate lawyer near Atlanta, Georgia, used his own money to pay two players to form a team. Lake stepped off the active roster in 2004 and took on administrative and coaching duties. By 2007, he had personally covered over $400,000 in player salaries and travel costs. After victories at the 2006 Intel Summer Championships and the DirecTV Championship Gaming Invitational, Lake sold the organization to DirecTV for $100,000. The team was renamed Los Angeles Complexity and entered the Championship Gaming Series. Key staff members like Kyle "kuniva" Shellhouse, Jordan "p4t" Taylor, Rick "digx" Martinez, and Shane "exica" Bailey helped raise the organization's standards during the 2000s. In 2007, Complexity’s Counter-Strike: Source squad won the CEVO Professional Division Season 4. When the CGS folded in 2008, Complexity kept going, fielding teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and Dota 2. The organization was part of the G7 Teams group, though it was removed and then reinstated in 2009. That same year, Complexity finished third at Dreamhack Winter 2009 and second at the IEM IV American Championship. They expanded into Quake Live by signing Sander "Vo0" Kaasjager and Brian "dkt" Flanders, and also competed in Madden NFL 2010, Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, and FIFA 10. On April 11, 2013, Complexity won the Call of Duty: Black Ops II championship at ESWC 2013. They sold that Call of Duty roster to Evil Geniuses on April 6, 2014. On March 22, 2015, Complexity announced they had picked up the Heroes of the Storm team Barrel Boys. Their Dota 2 team, based in a gaming house near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, qualified for The International 2015 through the regional qualifier.
Former divisions
On April 29, 2011, Complexity acquired Epic Charmanders, a League of Legends roster consisting of Atlanta, FitterHappier, Gynsingg, Nubbypoohbear, RicePanda, and Shales. The team qualified for the League of Legends Championship Series in its inaugural Spring 2013 split, finishing last in the regular season with a 9–19 record and being eliminated from the Spring Playoffs. This last-place finish relegated the team to the Challenger League. Complexity finished season one of the Challenger League with a 19–7 record in the Ancient Golem Conference, earning a playoff semifinal bye. They defeated Team Curse but lost to Team Coast, finishing second. In August, Yuhn, IWillDominate, and Hao joined; Atlanta and FitterHappier left. On November 29, Patoy and DontMashMe joined; Yuhn, Shales, and Gynsingg left. On January 1, IWillDominate transferred to Team Dignitas. On January 12, RicePanda, Nubbypoohbear, Hao, DontMashMe, and Patoy left. Complexity spent the rest of 2012 without a primary League of Legends roster but expanded its trainee roster through the compLexity Academy League of Legends program. On February 2, Complexity acquired The Brunch Club roster: Nickwu, Lautemortis, Chuuper, MeyeA, Brunch Ü, and Bischu. Meteos joined in February. On March 14, Newegg sponsored the team. PR0LLY joined on April 2; Chuuper moved to substitute. Brunch U retired on April 20; Chuuper moved to AD carry. Nickwu left on June 17; MegaZero joined on June 18. Aniratak joined in September. Lautemortis stepped down from starter and captain on October 3. PR0LLY left on November 23. On January 9, Complexity released the year's roster; MegaZero, Chuuper, and MeyeA left. On April 29, compLexity.Black became Complexity Gaming. On June 5, Brokenshard was replaced by Kez as starting jungler due to visa complications. On October 4, goldenglue joined as starter while ROBERTxLEE and Pr0lly moved to substitute. Kubz left on November 23. Westrice left on December 23 and later joined Cloud9. Jio "Jeyo" Madayag left for Evil Geniuses in October 2012; Complexity sold the squad to Team Liquid in December.
Partnerships
On June 15, 2018, Complexity announced a partnership with apparel brand H4X. WinStar World Casino became a partner on November 13, 2018. Complexity partnered with Panini America on January 14, 2019, and with HyperX on January 16, 2019. MSI became a hardware partner on April 29, 2019. GameStop sponsored the headquarters, called the GameStop Performance Center, on March 27, 2019. Miller Lite began sponsoring Complexity on May 15, 2019, with naming rights to the Miller Lite Player Lounge. Complexity partnered with Extra Life on October 7, 2019, and with Dairy Max on March 2, 2021.
More in Leagues & Clubs
Elsewhere in Team Liquid
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