The Global Gaming League (GGL), which was founded by Clinton Sparks who partnered with T-Pain and Jeff Hoffman, announced today that it secured $10 million to fund its multi-title gaming league.
The $10 million was raised for its SAFE round of funding and was led by Solyco Capital, which specializes in late-stage startup companies. The money itself will go towards running and starting the GGL.
The Global Gaming League is a multi-title gaming league that isn’t focused on esports or being the best. It’s focused on using influencers, athletes, artists, actors, and maybe a few professional gamers to compete. They’ll be on celebrity-owned teams and play everything from first-person shooters and classics to sports titles and hot releases.
This sort of variety show is meant to capitalize on the 3 billion people around the world who play games casually. T-Pain, GGL Director of Strategy and one of the first team owners, breaks down some of the numbers:
“Everybody games. 67% of people between the ages of 5 and 90 game in some form—in fact, more people watch video gaming than any sport (short of the NFL). 46% of gamers are female, colleges give scholarships for gaming now. and the average gamer is 36 years old, despite most thinking it’s only for kids. Gaming is a faster, cheaper and safer path to success than traditional sports.”
Clinton Sparks, Founder and CEO of GGL, shared the mindset behind the league:
“There are over 3 billion gamers around the world. But there’s still no centralized platform that gives everyday players the spotlight—while authentically connecting brands, celebrities, and competition in a way that’s truly entertaining.
That’s where GGL comes in. Imagine the energy of the Super Bowl, the fandom of Comic-Con, and the culture of ComplexCon and Coachella.
There is currently no place for investors to have any meaningful return on a gaming investment, brands to consistently get an ROI with gaming, publishers to expand their IP to new audiences, celebrities to have an authentic footprint in gaming and nothing set up for all gamers to build a career as a gamer, and have a chance to be recognized globally as true athletes. Until now.
The Global Gaming League is positioned to make gaming a household name in the same manner that the WWE did with wrestling and the UFC did with mixed martial arts, by systemizing and democratizing an industry that already exists with billions of users and hundreds of billions already being generated. Get familiar with the Global Gaming League.”
Matches in the GGL will be held in person at The Campus powered by Vū in Las Vegas. The Campus has a wrap-around digital screen and 43,000 square feet to hold all sorts of events.
The first celebrity team owners have already been revealed, and they’re T-Pain, Bryce Hall, Flavor Flav, and Ric Flair. There will be more teams announced later.
The $10 million raised will help pay towards costs, which could include the salary that players in the GGL will get. Over 250,000 people have already applied to play on these teams. Anyone can toss their lot in and apply to be part of the GGL’s 2025 season here on its website.
The Global Gaming League discussed why gaming draws in the ideal audience with locked-in viewers and authentic-feeling ads. Founder and Managing Partner of Solyco Capital, John Garcia, shared his thoughts about gaming and its potential for revenue after Solyco led the $10 million funding for GGL:
“Gaming is a blue ocean opportunity for brands, investors, and new business. Gamers spend 30% more on retail than non-gamers and that number goes up in key categories like automobiles, travel and technology.
Gamers don’t just play—they influence.
Today’s gamer spans generations and lifestyles. They watch, buy, and move culture. When I met Clinton Sparks and listened to his vision, I knew this wasn’t just another business idea—it’s a key future in media.”
Along with the $10 million funding, GGL launched its new Academy. The GGL Academy offers aspiring professional games industry workers the chance to train and network with those currently in the industry.
GGL has partnered with NYU, UNLV, and Syracuse to create a pathway from education to the arena. GGL wants to create a space for those who want to be in the industry, especially in underserved communities.
Jeff Hoffman, GGL Chairman of the Board, shared his thoughts:
“I came out of retirement for this. Because this isn’t just about gaming—it’s about access. GGL has the power to connect cultures, build international bridges, uplift underserved communities and close age gaps. And it’s not just meaningful—it’s good business. We’re building a platform that can monetize at scale while making a positive impact. That’s rare, and that’s why I’m all in.”
For more industry-related news, check out Limit Break’s 2025 mentorship program and the Japanese government-sponsored “So-Fu” gaming support program.