Fanatics will become the official retail partner of the Overwatch
League
The first-ever esports deal for Fanatics includes omnichannel retail
and fan gear manufacturing rights
IRVINE & SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2018--
The Overwatch League today announced a groundbreaking, multi-year deal
with Fanatics, the global leader for licensed sports merchandise, which
will provide the Overwatch League fanbase with an omnichannel retail
experience along with a significantly expanded assortment of products.
The agreement marks the first-ever foray into the rapidly expanding
global esports industry for Fanatics and is the first of its kind
between a major retailer and an official esports league.
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https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181203005191/en/
The deal is highlighted by Fanatics securing U.S. and international
rights to produce Overwatch League jerseys, fan gear, headwear, and hard
goods sold across all retail and wholesale channels. Under the new
agreement, both parties also will work collaboratively to identify and
secure additional world-class companies to grow the overall assortment
of high-quality products available to fans. In addition, Fanatics will
establish a new global ecommerce and mobile shopping platform and
operate on-site retail for all league events.
“Our collaboration with Fanatics—the first between a major esports
league and a global sports merchandising company—allows us to reach even
more fans and to provide them with high-quality merchandise and a
best-in-class retail experience where they can shop for all our great
Overwatch League gear,” said Brandon Snow, chief revenue officer of
Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. “Fanatics has a proven track record
of success with major sports brands and we’re excited to work with them
in expanding this part of our business.”
Fanatics—utilizing an innovative vertical manufacturing model, combining
extensive licensing rights with on-demand manufacturing and an agile
supply chain—will design and quickly distribute high-quality Overwatch
League fan gear across all categories, including merchandise for league
events and championships.
“The demand for team gear during our inaugural season was very strong,”
said Daniel Siegel, head of esports licensing for Blizzard
Entertainment. “A significant number of fans—for regular-season matches
at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles and at the Grand Finals in Brooklyn—showed
up in jerseys to support their teams, and we’re thrilled to make it even
easier for them to represent their favorite teams and players.”
“Esports has been on our radar for some time now and we are incredibly
excited to mark our first deal with the best in the world in Activision
Blizzard around their incredibly successful Overwatch League,” said Ross
Tannenbaum, head of special projects for Fanatics. “Our omnichannel
retail capabilities and real-time vertical manufacturing model will
ensure that Overwatch League fans across the globe have unprecedented
access to a wide assortment of merchandise to be able to show their
passion and pride for the teams and players they love, whether shopping
online, on their phone, or at one of many league events.”
The agreement between the Overwatch League and Fanatics will be
implemented before the start of the 2019 Overwatch League season, which
kicks off on February 14. At that time, Overwatch League gear will be
available on a dedicated e-store and on select sites across Fanatics’
global network.
The new online storefronts will be the first to sell gear for the
Overwatch League’s new expansion teams: Atlanta Reign, Chengdu Hunters,
Guangzhou Charge, Hangzhou Spark, Paris Eternal, Toronto Defiant,
Vancouver Titans, and the Washington Justice. Fanatics will operate
on-site retail stores for all Overwatch League regular-season matches at
Blizzard Arena Los Angeles and for other league events.
Further details about the official launch of the new Overwatch League
ecommerce platform and the 2019 season will be announced at a later date.
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-two #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 Fanatics
As the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, Fanatics is
changing the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel and jerseys
through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan
gear in today’s on-demand culture. Operating multi-channel commerce for
the world’s biggest sports brands, Fanatics offers the largest
collection of timeless and timely merchandise whether shopping online,
on your phone, in stores, in stadiums or on-site at the world’s biggest
sporting events.
© 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 multi-year deal with Fanatics, the dates of the
2019 Overwatch League season, and the availability of Overwatch League
gear, 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181203005191/en/
Source: Activision Publishing, Inc.
Mark Van Lommel
Overwatch League
949-955-1380 x61147
MVanLommel@overwatchleague.com
Brandon Williams
Fanatics
646-787-2813
brawilliams@fanatics.com