In June 2013, .Club Domains, LLC acquired the .club gTLD through a private auction after raising $7 million from 27 individual investors.Colin Campbell, the company'schief executive officer, declined to reveal the final auction price, citing confidentiality agreements.[3] .club was the first new gTLD acquired via private auction. Unsuccessful applicants competing for the gTLD wereDonuts and the Merchant Law Group LLP.[4]
According to The Domains, "Those now using a web address ending in .club include brands, celebrities, sports figures, innovative entrepreneurs and startups, associations, and clubs around the globe... tens of thousands of clubs, business and individuals are actively using a .club address for their web presence, from Rotary Clubs, to school clubs, to passionate bloggers."[5] Prominent individuals using the extension include rapper50 Cent,[6] professional basketball playerTyler Johnson,[7] and Indian cricket starVirat Kohli.[5]
