TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles has partnered with Hammers Esports to launch the Hollywood Hammers, the two parties announced Tuesday morning.

"We are bringing to Los Angeles an exceptional esports franchise to become our local team," TCL Chinese Theatre CEO Robert K. Laity said in a press release. "The esports world deserves a local fan base in addition to a global following in much the same way that other sports like basketball, football, and baseball have strong and close affiliations with fans in major cities across the U.S. Los Angeles now has its newest team to follow and support."

Hammers Esports, which was founded in 2015, fields teams in Overwatch, Vainglory and Clash Royale. Hammers is the first esports organization to adopt a venue home in Los Angeles. Many teams, including the League of Legends Championship Series, are based in Los Angeles County, but none has adopted an arena in the area.

"The Hammers organization looks to lead the trend of esports teams being more accessible and connected to local fans," Hammers Esports CEO King Perez De Tagle said. "Our affiliation with the TCL Chinese Theatre, an incredible Los Angeles landmark, and the creation of Hollywood Esports bridges the gap between our global fans and gamers of all kinds. As the Hollywood Hammers, our teams welcome other competing esports teams to challenge us in our home arena."

The TCL Chinese Theatre continues a trend of theatre venues that have hosted or will host esports events in the next year. The Chicago Theatre, for example, played host to the League of Legends World Championship in October, while the Wang Theatre in Boston presented the Dota 2 Boston Major. The Fox Theatre in Atlanta hosted the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major in December and January, respectively.

The TCL Chinese Theatre initially opened in 1927 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was declared a historic landmark in 1968. The TCL Corporation, a Chinese electronics manufacturer, acquired the naming rights to the theatre in 2013.