Overwatch League gets in gear for 2019 season with new teams and huge merch deal
Washington Justice and Vancouver Titans were the final new teams to reveal their identities as Blizzard confirmed deal with Fantatics to supply OWL replica kit, caps and other merch
THE 2019 Overwatch League season is set to kick off on February 14, and all the teams who will be competing have now been revealed.
Eight new franchises have been snapped up by major sports teams, esports organisations and other investors, all looking to usurp the London Spitfire as the OWL Champions.
The final two teams to be revealed were the Washington Justice and Vancouver Titans this weekend.
They joined the Hangzhou Spark, Chengdu Hunters, Guangzhou Charge, Paris Eternal, Toronto Defiant and Atlanta Reign to bring the league up to 20 teams.
Each of the new franchises is believed to have cost between £15million and £40million, though these amounts have never been officially confirmed.
Alongside the announcement of the final two teams to compete next year was the news that Fanatic will be the official supplier for Overwatch League merchandise from next year.
The company, which is also an official partner of Major League Baseball, the NFL and the NHL, as well as Formula 1 and international Rugby teams, will be the official destination for official merch for all 20 teams globally.
It's the first time Fanatic has offered merch for esports, and will mean there will be a much wider range of ways for fans to show their team pride during season two.
“Our collaboration with Fanatics—the first between a major esports league and a global sports merchandising company—allows us to reach even more fans and to provide them with high-quality merchandise and a best-in-class retail experience where they can shop for all our great Overwatch League gear,” according to Brandon Snow, chief revenue officer of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues.
“Fanatics has a proven track record of success with major sports brands and we’re excited to work with them in expanding this part of our business.”
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The deal means that Fanatic's online shop will be the first place for fans to get merch for all the new teams, as well as new offerings for the existing ones, wherever in the world they are.
Next season should be easier to follow for European fans, with the league's commissioner Nate Nanzer promising more 'EU friendly' match slots while the teams remain based in Los Angeles.
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