Overwatch League Viewer’s Guide: What You Need to Know

January 3, 2018 Jason Jones 0 Comments

What is Overwatch League?

The Overwatch League (OWL) is Activision-Blizzard’s attempt to create a world premier esports league. Unlike other esports tournaments, the Overwatch League will consist of franchised teams that are tied to specific cities or locations, similar to professional sports teams. It will be the first major, global, esports league with location-based teams. They are hoping to create a league where viewers and fans can get behind a home team and root for their favorites.

Like other professional athletes, league players will also be given a base salary which starts at $50,000 USD. They will also receive healthcare, retirement savings, and housing during the season. All of this is to allow the players to make a career out of their passion, dedication, and skill.

Overwatch League Schedule

The inaugural season will kick off on January 10th and run through June 16th. The regular season will consist of 4 stages with matches being played out live at the Blizzard Arena in Los Angeles. Matches will be played every Wednesday through Sunday of each stage.

Each team will end up playing 40 games over the course of the regular season. Twenty will take place in their own division and twenty will be cross-divisional. The stages will run during the following dates:

Even though the season is split up into four stages, every stage will contribute to each teams full-season win/loss record. On the last Saturday of each stage, the top three teams from that particular stage will compete in a playoff for their piece of a $125,000 performance bonus.

At the end of stage 4, the top six teams will compete in a championship playoff. The top team from each division will get an automatic invite, with the remaining four will be invited based on their full-season record. The playoffs will run between July 11-22, and the final two teams will go head to head on July 26-28. The winning team will be granted the League trophy and a $1 million prize.

Team Lineup

The Overwatch League will consist of 12 teams split across two divisions, the Atlantic and Pacific Divisions. Divisions will be composed of six teams each. Out of the twelve teams competing, nine are from the USA, one from Europe, and two from Asia.

Atlantic Division

Boston Uprising

Owned by The Kraft Group, which also owns the MLS’s New England Revolution and the NFL’s New England Patriots.
Florida Mayhem

Owned by Misfits, who also run division in League of Legends, Counter Strike, Super Smash Bros, and Hearthstone.
Houston Outlaws

Owned by OpTic Gaming, who are the reigning Call of Duty World Champs.
London Spitfire

Owned by Cloud9 who also has teams in numerous esports.
New York Excelsior

Owned by Sterling Venture Capitals, a real estate development business whose owner is a majority owner of the New York Mets.
Philadelphia Fusion

Owned by Comcast Spectator (part of the broadcasting company Comcast Group), who also owns the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.

Pacific Division

Dallas Fuel

Owned by Team EnVyUs, one of the longest running esports team organizations spanning multiple games.
- Los Angeles Gladiators
  
  Owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment who are major shareholders in the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Mammoth, Los Angeles Rams, and London-based Arsenal FC.
- Los Angeles Valiant
  
  Owned by the Immortals, a group of investors whose hands are into a number of ventures. From co-owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, a Marchinima.com chairman, and major investors in the L.A. Lakers, Kings, and Galaxy.
- San Francisco Shock
  
  Owned by NRG Esports whose chairman, Andy Miller, is co-owner of the Sacramento Kings along with other owners including Shaquille O’Neal.
- Seoul Dynasty
  
  Owned by KSV Esports, whose co-founders are prominent members of Kabam, one of the world’s leaders of AAA console quality games for mobile devices.
- Shanghai Dragons
  
  Owned by NetEase, who is Blizzard’s regional partner for China since 2008.