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Overwatch League Could Move Teams To Home Cities By '20 Season

The Overwatch League will "aim to move franchises to their home cities and start traveling to these cities" by '20 in time for the "launch of the league's third season," according to sources cited by Jacob Wolf of ESPN.com. How teams will travel has "not been decided." But sources said that one idea discussed is a "roadshow that would have all teams in a division travel to a city at once, essentially touring regions of the world." Since the league launched in January, it has "competed out of the Blizzard Arena at the Burbank Studios in California." The league's inaugural finals "will take place in July at Barclays Center." Blizzard said that by the end of this summer, the Overwatch League "intends to have a total of 18 teams to begin competing in the second season" in '19. It will look to "add a total of six across three regions -- North America, Europe and Asia."  Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues President & CEO Pete Vlastelica said that the league is "discussing with buyers in Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin, as well as some of Scandinavia." Sources said that franchise prices "during this round of expansion" range from $30-60M, depending on a "number of factors like Overwatch player density and bidders for certain slots" (ESPN.com, 6/6).

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Blizzard hopes to have 18 teams competing in the Overwatch League's second season in '19 getty images

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