The Drone Racing League (DRL) right now introduced key multi-year, worldwide companions and sponsors forward of its 2017 race season. In February, DRL launched Allianz because the title sponsor of DRL’s elite race circuit, leveraging the insurance coverage model’s motor racing sponsorship heritage to convey the “Sport of the Future” to a quickly rising worldwide viewers. Allianz and beforehand introduced Toy State, dwelling of high-performance Nikko™ Air racing drones, are joined by a few of the world’s most well-known and revered manufacturers together with Amazon (Prime Video), Swatch, FORTO Coffee Shots and the U.S. Air Force. The season begins on June 20 on ESPN, and shall be broadcast in additional than 75 international locations with broadcast companions together with Sky Sports, ProSiebenSat.1, Disney XD and OSN.
DRL additionally introduced right now the shut of a Series B funding spherical. The financing was greater than $20 million, led by Sky, Liberty Media Corporation (proprietor of Formula 1) and Lux Capital. In addition to Liberty Media Corporation, DRL added new buyers Allianz (its world Title Sponsor of the race circuit) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Other present companions that be part of Sky and Lux within the spherical embrace Hearst Ventures, RSE Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, and Courtside Ventures. DRL has additionally added CRCM Ventures, supporting DRL’s enlargement into China. LionTree Advisors acted as a monetary advisor for the corporate and Morrison Foerster was the corporate’s authorized advisor.
“We’re incredibly proud to announce new partners and investors aligning with DRL to solidify drone racing as the sport of the future,” stated Nicholas Horbaczewski, CEO and Founder of DRL. “Over the past 18 months, we’ve committed to building a technology company that can capture the imagination of new sports fans around the world. The support we have from some of the most respected brands and investors is helping us rapidly realize that vision.”
The announcement from DRL comes forward of the UK’s first skilled drone race and the final race within the 2017 Allianz World Championship Season, the headline occasion throughout London Tech Week. The race will happen at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace on June 13th, with eight of the most effective pilots flying to be topped the ‘best in the world’ in the course of the winner-take-all 2017 season finale. Tickets for the occasion may be bought right here.
The Drone Racing League launched in January 2016 as the one world skilled drone racing group, internet hosting 5 skilled races in its inaugural season. DRL’s ‘16 season reached more than 75 million fans around the world, including more than 30 million broadcast viewers and more than 45 million views of its digital content. The title partnership with Allianz will help DRL to continue to reach new viewers and build an even larger global fan base as the company introduces new events, media and brand partners in its second season. Toy State’s Nikko Air choices are the one racing drones powered by the identical expertise utilized by skilled DRL drone racing pilots. The firm’s new line-up, which is able to give a large swath of customers the prospect to expertise the fast-paced enjoyable of drone racing, takes flight at main retailers nationwide this August.
Here is DRL’s trailer for the 2017 season:
