Four to six teams could be added to the Overwatch League for its second season, with Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East all considered.
Pete Vlastelica, president and CEO of Activision Blizzard’s esports leagues, spoke to German business site Handelsblatt about Overwatch League expansion. Vlastelica told Handelsblatt that Germany, in particular, is an important market for the Overwatch League. The league is looking for cities with a high concentration of Overwatch players. Berlin is appealing for that reason—it’s a city with a rich history in esports.
Related: The Overwatch League is reportedly targeting four to six more teams priced up to $60 million each
Amsterdam, Paris, and London are also in consideration for the European market.
Vlastelica’s comments align with a previous report from ESPN that said four to six slots were up for grabs for expansion. ESPN reported that these Overwatch League franchises could cost from $30 to $60 million, a number decided by the general population of the city and its Overwatch players in the region.
Vlastelica declined to comment on the price of the Overwatch League slots, but noted that the first round of sales exceeded initial expectations. The value of these franchises have only increased since then, he added.
Overwatch fans can expect home arenas to begin popping up in the league’s third season, Vlastelica said. For the second season of the Overwatch League, regular season matches will continue to be played in Los Angeles at the Blizzard Arena.
The Overwatch League’s inaugural season is ongoing, with the regular season concluding on June 17 and post-season matches beginning on July 11. The grand finals will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York from July 27 to 28.
Scheduling details for the league’s second season have not been released.
