The Overwatch League: Selling the Stadium Dream, Part One: North America



Headline image courtesy of Dreamhack flickr

Recently, a tweet posted by Mark J. Burns showed a presentation slide of Nate Nanzer, global esports director for Overwatch, showing a mock-up of a potential starting lineup of cities for the Overwatch League:

Now, something to remember here is that what Nate was showing was merely an example list. None of the cities are confirmed. However, what the list does do is make an excellent opportunity for us to start the discussion on the different possibilites for OWL team locations. Let's talk about some of the key metrics such as city population, available venues and possibilities of partnerships with traditional sports teams.

This three-part series will begin with some of the possibilities in North America. Part two will feature non-NA cities, focused on Europe and the stronger Asian scenes. Part three will cover the cities that have already established relationships with various Overwatch teams across the globe and are prime candidates for OWL inclusion.

So, let's begin shall we? I can think of no better place to start than in the city that considers itself the center of the known universe...

1) New York, New York, U.S.A



Population: 8.4 million

Possible OWL major venues: Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Barclays Center

Potential Sports Partners: Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Islanders, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets



With several cities already forming alliances with eSports organizations, I find it somewhat hard to believe that The Big Apple hasn’t found a soulmate yet. My hunch is that the bidding price for NYC is probably astronomical if the rumored prices are true, or they could be courting several potential partners. Whatever the case, Gotham, as far as we know, is still on the market and she brings many, many tantalizing attractions.



Image By Rich Mitchell from New York, NY - Madison Square Garden, February 2013, CC BY 2.0

People, look at that list. No, really look at it. There is enough history packed into those few examples to fill a thousand sports almanacs. You could run the entire OWL right out of NYC if you wanted to and you’d have room to spare. Can you imagine a packed house of screaming Overwatch nuts at the grand finals of OWL at “The Gah-den?” It sends chills just to think about it. Lady Liberty is no stranger to esports either, having had several major events hosted at The Barclays Center alone.

2) Los Angeles, California, U.S.A



Population: 3.9 million

Possible OWL Major venues: Staples Center, The Forum (post renovation,) Pauley Pavillion, Dodger Stadium, L.A. Memorial Coliseum

Possible Sports Partnerships: Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Dodgers, Kings, Galaxy



The North American home of esports. Home of Blizzcon, and The Overwatch World Cup. This city, and its esports pedigree, needs no introduction. Unsurprisingly, no shortage of potential here. Take your pick of monstrous venues to hold a major event. How about a partnership with the Kings or Lakers and playing your OWL home games at The Staples Center? Yeah, that would be an OK gig I suppose. L.A. loves their sports teams like their own children and, hopefully, they will embrace their OWL team in the same fashion.

3) Toronto, Ontario, Canada



Population: 2.6 million

Possible OWL Major venues: Maple Leaf Gardens, Air Canada Center, Rogers Centre, BMO Field

Possible Sports Partnerships: Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, Toronto FC



Author’s Note: The Toronto Esports club has, to my knowledge, no official partnership with either the city or one of the local sports clubs. As such, we will consider them, and the city, unaffiliated. If I am incorrect, please let me know.

Toronto is a fascinating prospect. If Canada has representation in OWL for the first year, I can’t think it would be any other city. I think a small argument could be made for Ottawa, but in the end, I think Toronto is the winner. When you have the most popular hockey club on the planet (with an amazingly enticing partnership opportunity) coupled with a city that is absolutely sports crazy (dem Blue Jays) and you end up with a massive opportunity for one lucky OWL organization. A packed house at Maple Leaf Gardens or The Air Canada Center with OWL action on the menu? Show me the ticket line.



Image courtesy of Air Canada Centre

4) Mexico City, Mexico



Population: 8.85 million

Possible OWL Major venues: Mexico City Arena, Foro Sol, Palacio de los Deportes

Possible Sports Partnerships: Cruz Azul, Club America, Diablos Rojos del Mexico, Club Universidad Nacional



I’m going to say this right up front, Mexico City NEEDS an OWL team. The esports scene in Mexico is hype inducing. The city itself is absolutely chock-full of life and it already has a history of major esports events, most namely in Gears of War. The fine citizens of Mexico City know how to party, and if you pack out MCA with an OWL event, those folks will blow the roof off the place. Need some evidence? Take a look at some of the concerts and events held in the past at the MCA. The crowds are electric. I firmly believe the OWL could bring the same thing to the city with enough support.

5) Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.



Population: 652,000

Possible OWL Major venues: Key Arena, Century Link Field, Safeco Field

Possible Sports Partnerships: Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders FC



Seattle is a city that has had its troubles with traditional sports in the past. The loss of the Sonics, missing out on an NHL team in the recent NHL expansion and so on. However, what clubs they do have, they pull for with all their heart. “The Clink” is often referred to as the loudest arena in sports for a reason. I think we could do the same for Overwatch. On the same scale? Not in the beginning, but all sports clubs need to build a tradition and the same goes for esports. If an OWL organization can win the hearts of the city of Seattle, they will be loved for eternity. Shawn Kempf still walks on water in this city, as an example.



Image courtesy of The United Center

6) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.



Population: 2.7 million

Possible OWL Major venues: The United Center (The Madhouse on Madison), Soldier Field, Wrigley Field

Possible Sports Partnerships: Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls



Oh, Windy City, how I love you dearly. Being an Indiana kid I have spent a significant amount of time in the city on the lake and I can tell you from personal experience that no town has a sports atmosphere like Chi-Town. They carried a telephone pole, live wires still attached, down the streets of Chicago when The Cubs won their World Series:

Now, I don’t condone dangerous, life threatening acts of any sort, but this is a prime example of how the city loves their teams. Call me crazy, but I think esports, and Overwatch particularly, could find the same success given enough time and support.

7) Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.



Population: 1.3 million

Possible OWL Major venues: AT&T Stadium, American Airlines Center, Fair Park Coliseum

Possible Sports Partnerships: Cowboys, Stars, Mavericks



“Big D” as the locals tend to call it, has an affinity for its sports clubs and its 80's television series. Consider that when the Stars moved to Dallas, nobody thought hockey would work in Texas. Boy, how wrong they were. I think we could see a similar situation with an OWL club. Nearby Austin is a tech hotbed with a very youthful populace and I think you could certainly convince a good chunk of them to make the drive to Dallas, assuming they could get tickets away from the Dallas fans.



Image courtesy of Wikipedia

This is far from an all-inclusive list of the unaffiliated major North American cities as it stands as of the writing of this article. However, I think it does convey the potential for a stadium based esports league such as the OWL. Will everyday games be played in these major arenas? Certainly not, at least not early on. Rental prices for these stadiums are astronomical and popularity has to be given time to bloom before we could even consider that notion. However, could we see the final four played out in year one at one of these fine venues? I absolutely think so.

Only time will tell, however. Speculation is our best and only friend at the moment when talking OWL, but with speculation comes big dreams, and it takes big dreams to fuel success.

In part two of this series, coming soon, we will discuss potential cities and their respective venues in the EU and other parts of the world. Until then, may your solo queues be kind.

Follow all the competitive Overwatch news at @GosuOverwatch on Twitter.