IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Grand Finals for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League, which will determine the champions of the world’s first global city-based esports league, will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, over July 27–28, 2018.
Following the end of the Overwatch League regular season on Sunday, June 17, the postseason will begin with a field of six teams on Wednesday, July 11, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles in Burbank, California. After the playoffs conclude, two finalists will take center stage in the Big Apple—at the home arena of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets—to battle for a share of the USD $1.4 million prize pool, the Overwatch League trophy, and a place in the history books.
The Grand Finals will feature an immersive on-site fan experience at Barclays Center, and will culminate in the ultimate showdown for the Overwatch League championship: the first team to win two best-of-five matches will take home the trophy. Play begins Friday, July 27, at 8 p.m. EDT with the first best-of-five match, and continues Saturday, July 28, at 4 p.m. EDT with the second and potential third series.
“The Overwatch League Grand Finals will be an epic experience for fans and viewers,” said Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer. “We want this to be the pinnacle of esports, and holding it at a world-class venue like Barclays Center, in a global capital like New York, will help us celebrate not only the league’s two best teams, but the fans, partners, and players who have joined us on this incredible journey.”
“We are thrilled to host the inaugural Overwatch League Grand Finals, as we are quickly becoming a marquee destination for global esports leagues,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “This past year, the Overwatch League became the breakout league in the sports industry, and we anticipate drawing a dynamic international audience to experience the event live in July.”
Tickets to the two-day event go on sale on Friday, May 18, at 10 a.m. EDT, and can be purchased on ticketmaster.com and barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets also can be purchased at the American Express Box Office beginning Saturday, May 19, at 12 p.m. EDT. One-day tickets will go on sale at a later date, subject to availability.
Tickets to the first two rounds of the Overwatch League postseason at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles go on sale Thursday, May 10, at 9 a.m. PDT via AXS.com.
Visit www.overwatchleague.com/#signup to register to receive information about ticketing for the 2018 Overwatch League Grand Finals and more.
About the Overwatch League™
The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—Nasdaq: ATVI), whose iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest addition to Blizzard’s stable of twenty-one #1 games,[1] Overwatch was built from the ground up for online competition, with memorable characters and fast-paced action designed for the most engaging gameplay and spectator experiences. To learn more about the Overwatch League, visit www.overwatchleague.com.
About Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment:
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center, NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre. BSE manages and controls the Brooklyn Nets and its NBA G League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business operations of the NHL’s New York Islanders.
Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and Parm Italian Restaurant & 40/40 CLUB by Tanduay Rum.
NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, reopened on April 5, 2017, after undergoing an extensive renovation. The Coliseum offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMAb and boxing, 13,900 for hockey, up to 15,000 for concerts, and 4,500 seats for its theater configuration. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and creates alliances, strategic partnerships and other business opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.
© 2018 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE, BLIZZARD and BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.
[1] Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the dates, events and features of the Overwatch League, including details about the playoffs and Grand Finals of the inaugural season, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
