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Report: Overwatch League team spots could be really expensive

Taylor Cocke
Bringing Tracer and the rest of the Overwatch company home is going to cost big bucks (Blizzard)
Bringing Tracer and the rest of the Overwatch company home is going to cost big bucks (Blizzard)

UPDATE: Sports Business Journal has updated their piece, citing sources stating that teams could cost up to $30 million on the higher end.

Blizzard has been shopping the Overwatch League around the country, according to a report from Sports Business Journal.

After essentially maintaining radio silence since the League’s announcement at BlizzCon 2016, Blizzard seems to finally be ramping things up. That means going on the road to potential host cities for the League’s location-based teams.

In a recent earnings call, Blizzard execs said they were aiming to “start identifying team owners soon.”

According to Sports Business Journal, owners looking to pick up a team are going to have to shell out a significant chunk of change, however. Their report claims that smaller market owners will have to drop $2 million to $5 million, with spots in Los Angeles potentially costing as much as $15 million.

The high cost likely comes as a result of the Overwatch League’s revenue sharing model, which gives teams a chunk of the money brought in by the League itself. But with very little information about how the League will actually operate, it’s hard to imagine owners dropping that much cash without a convincing argument from the developer.

But with more than 25 million registered Overwatch players worldwide, the Overwatch League could command big audiences. While tournaments like Overwatch APEX haven’t gotten the viewership necessary to cement the shooter as a top-tier esport, Blizzard clearly believes the future is bright.


Taylor Cocke is hopeful, but hesitant. Follow him on Twitter @taylorcocke.