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Since its formation in 2017, the Overwatch League—the skilled esports program for Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch hero shooter—has drawn frequent comparisons to conventional sporting establishments. Its acknowledged intention, as WIRED put it in a 2017 characteristic, was to develop into the brand new US Nationwide Soccer League.
The 2 establishments definitely overlapped: The Overwatch League was the primary main esports league to franchise native groups in main cities, and it options reside spectator occasions with hometown crowds and salaried athletes. The aim was to supply esports followers a extra conventional sports activities mannequin, the place they might go to an area area or venue, see their hometown workforce play in opposition to an “away” workforce, and cheer throughout the occasion. The mannequin provided native pop-up shops, workforce merchandise, ticket gross sales, media rights, and licensing.
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