Atlanta is set to add another expansion franchise – this time in esports.
The Overwatch League announced Thursday that Atlanta will join the global
Kevin King Jersey , city-based esports circuit in 2019, its second season. The team will be managed by Atlanta Esports Ventures, a partnership between Cox Enterprises and Province Inc.
”We’ve had our eye on Atlanta for a long time,” said Pete Vlastelica, president and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. ”It is near the top of the list of remaining Overwatch cities in the world, certainly in North America.”
The league also announced a new franchise in Guangzhou, China. It plans to add four more franchises before next season
Customized Dallas Cowboys Jerseys , which would bring the total to 18.
The Overwatch League explored awarding Atlanta one of its 12 inaugural franchises but couldn’t find an ownership fit for the first season. The league is hoping to capture some of the same enthusiasm backing Atlanta United of the MLS. The soccer club has shattered just about every MLS attendance record since joining the league in 2017.
”There’s a lot of Overwatch players there, and not just in Atlanta but in the Southeast,” Vlastelica said. ”Between Texas, where we have two franchises, and Florida, where we have a franchise, there’s a lot of America and a lot of video game players and a lot of Overwatch players. And it’s just a great sports market.”
Province executive Paul Hamilton will serve as Atlanta’s president and general manager. He’s a lifelong esports enthusiast and hardcore fan of Blizzard’s 6 vs. 6 first-person shooter. He plans to be hands-on regarding player acquisition and roster management.
