"It's a global league, so we want big, globally recognisable cities. Our focus is really on expansion in Europe and throughout Asia Pacific, of which Australia and New Zealand is a part."

Although the competition has been based in Blizzard's Los Angeles studio for season one, teams have all been associated with specific cities.

"We have supporters clubs in several cities now that get together for each game," said Mr Nanzer. "The fact we're seeing hundreds of people gather in bars to watch their teams play is amazing.

"In season two, we'll look to create more ways for players to have time to go engage in the local market if we're not playing at home venues, which is our number one strategic priority as a league right now."

The possibility of an Overwatch team in Melbourne emerges during the launch of Gfinity Australia's Elite Series – a domestic eSports league with six teams across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

Competing each weekend across three distinct eSports games, Gfinity Australia has dubbed itself the "Big Bash" of eSports.

The former general manager of the Sydney Sixers cricket team, Dom Remond, is now the head of Gfinity Australia.


Attractive to sponsors and investors

"That was the opportunity that we identified in the market here," Mr Redmond said. "Providing a city-based concept based on traditional sports.

Dry those tears, we know you need more Overwatch in your life so we’re rebroadcasting today’s matches on @Twitch all over again! #OWL2018https://t.co/U6dIioZfOU pic.twitter.com/tBDDsFWDr7 — Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) June 10, 2018

"The fact they can sit there and say 'that's similar to what I've seen so-and-so do in the Rugby League or what iiNet has done with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League', that's where it is really tangible for them and I think that really has made the difference."

Mr Nanzer said this format was attractive to sponsors and investors because of its familiarity.

"For big brands that are used to sponsoring traditional sports, it's something they understand," says Nanzer.

Traditional sports team owners have taken the lead in investing in eSports in Australia and globally.

A competitor celebrates during the opening weekend of the Gfinity Elite Series. Supplied


The AFL has been an early mover domestically, as the Adelaide Crows and Essendon Bombers have bought existing eSports teams and broght them into their sports organisations.

But these investments have been smaller than the rumoured $US20 million ($26 million) that was required of team owners in the first season of Blizzard's Overwatch League. There have been recent suggestions that expansion teams will be required to pay two to three times that figure now the league has launched successfully.

The number of regular events in Australia is growing fast, as more top-tier events and competitions arrive on Australian shores.

In Sydney, the Intel Extreme Masters event held last month attracted 7500 fans for each day of the event at the Qudos Bank Arena at Homebush in Sydney.

Although Sydney has had the early run at big eSports events, Melbourne is keen to take over.

The Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, announced last week a new Melbourne eSports Open with an explicit aim of claiming the title of eSports capital. The new event will run annually starting in September at Melbourne & Olympic Park.

The government's announcement claims Victoria alone is home to 560,000 eSports fans.

Although various eSports games and events are ultimately competing for investors and sponsors, Mr Nanzer said it was still early enough in the evolution of eSports for everyone to succeed.

"The eSports industry is still at the rising tide lifts all boats phase," he said. "Whatever we do is going to affect others, whatever others do is going to affect us."