In due time, eSports will be as popular as good old-fashioned athletics, and the Overwatch League is hoping to be one of the early recipients of that popularity. The professional eSports league is the first in the world to be structured like the major sports leagues around the world, with owners and general managers running teams out of cities rather than privately.
The Overwatch League is set to debut in 2017, and there are already confirmed teams in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, the Miami-Orlando area, Shanghai, and Seoul. Naturally, the competitions will be on Overwatch, the relatively new but incredibly popular first-person shooter game from Blizzard.
In a promotional hype video for the league, Serena Williams makes a cameo as a fan of the fictional pro gamer protagonist, showing Overwatch League's desire to be a broadly watched pop culture item.
What's Driving This Trend
- City-based Esports Leagues
- The structure of professional eSports leagues around the world will be shaken up as Overwatch League is the first in the world to be structured like major sports leagues around the world, with owners and general managers running teams out of cities rather than privately.
- Popularity of Esports
- The growing popularity of eSports will put increasing pressure on traditional sports leagues and broadcasters.
- Promotional Audience Expansion
- Overwatch League's use of Serena Williams in a promotional hype video highlights their desire to be a mainstream entertainment product and reach new audiences.
Who This Affects Most
- Sports & Entertainment
- The integration of eSports and traditional sports leagues will create new opportunities and revenue streams for sports and entertainment industry professionals.
- Gaming Industry
- The growth of city-based eSports leagues will create new opportunities for game developers and companies in the gaming industry, particularly those with popular eSport games.
- Broadcasting
- The popularity of eSports will create new opportunities for broadcasters to appeal to a younger, tech-savvy audience who may not be traditional sports fans.
