Fans purchased more than 20,000 tickets to the esports championship
in Brooklyn, New York
The largest esports event ever slated at Barclays Center sold out
within two weeks of its public on-sale date
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 1, 2018--
Tickets to the first-ever Overwatch League Grand Finals have sold out.
The competition to determine the champions of the world’s first major
global, city-based esports league will be held over July 27–28 at
Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. More than 20,000 tickets were
snapped up following the public on-sale date on Friday, May 18, marking
the largest esports event ever slated at Barclays Center.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180601005217/en/
The first-ever Overwatch League Grand Finals will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We knew the Overwatch League had amazing, enthusiastic fans, but this
is something else,” said Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer.
“We’re incredibly excited to play to a packed house at one of the
world’s premier sports and entertainment arenas. With the help of our
broadcast team, our partners, and Barclays Center, we’re going to put on
a first-class show for everyone in attendance, and for the millions more
who will be watching online.”
“We are thrilled with the momentum behind the Overwatch League Grand
Finals,” said Keith Sheldon, EVP of Programming, BSE Global. “Our goal
at Barclays Center is to be the destination for major esports events.
That vision is taking shape as a result of a great partnership with the
talented team behind the Overwatch League.”
The Grand Finals is the culmination of the Overwatch League’s inaugural
season, which kicked off with the first regular-season matchup on
January 10. Play has continued over four thrilling stages since then,
each capped by a Stage Finals. The Stage 4 Finals are scheduled for June
17, and will be followed by the Overwatch League Playoffs, from July
11–21, at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles, in Burbank, California. Tickets to
all remaining regular-season matches and playoffs are now available from AXS.com.
During the playoffs, six teams will battle to punch their ticket to
Brooklyn and Barclays Center. The two teams that reach the Grand Finals
will compete for a share of the USD $1.4 million prize pool, the
Overwatch League trophy, and to capture history as the league’s
inaugural champions.
The Overwatch League Grand Finals will be streamed live from Barclays
Center on Twitch,
OverwatchLeague.com
and the Overwatch League app, and on MLG.com.
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 BSE Global
BSE Global, formerly Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, 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; LIU Brooklyn
Paramount Theatre; and Webster Hall. 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 reopened on April 5, 2017, after undergoing an extensive
renovation. The venue offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMA 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 Stage 4 Finals, 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180601005217/en/
Source: Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Overwatch League
Mark Van Lommel
949-955-1380 x61147
MVanLommel@overwatchleague.com
or
BSE
Global
Mandy Gutmann
Vice President, Communications
718-942-9587
mgutmann@brooklynse.com
or
Stuart
Bryan
Senior Manager, Communications
718-942-9574
sbryan@brooklynse.com
or
Gina
Antoniello
Communications Manager
516-666-8482
gantoniello@brooklynse.com