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Overwatch League Eyeing European Expansion, Commissioner Says

Nate Nanzer said that the OWL is focused on adding clubs in France and Spain, among other regions.GETTY IMAGES

Overwatch League Commissioner Nate Nanzer talked about the league's "plans for new teams around the world," according to Matt Porter of the London DAILY MAIL. He said, "We've kicked off expansion sales, and we're really looking at Europe as a key market." Within the past few weeks, Activision Blizzard has been traveling around Europe and "speaking to teams who could potentially buy in to the league next season." There are a "great deal" of large endemic esports organizations in the region with a "long history of success." Blizzard has been speaking to them, but it has also "put a particular focus on real life sports brands." Nanzer: "We were in Rome and our CEO, Bobby Kotick, gave a speech on esports at the European Club Association General Assembly. It's where all the European football clubs come together. ... We've had a lot of conversations with different clubs across the continent. Football clubs in Europe, many of them are among the most forward thinking and innovative in all of sports. Obviously, esports is a way they can reach new audiences." Nanzer added that the league is "particularly focused" on adding teams in markets like France, Germany, Spain, the Nordic region, Benelux and Italy. London Spitfire "is the only European team right now." He said, "We have London. We want teams in the big great cities across Europe like Paris, Berlin ... those are the kinds of places we're focused on" (DAILY MAIL, 4/17).

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