Call of Duty League

Call of Duty League is a professional esports league for the Call of Duty video game series, operated by Activision and Treyarch. The league was announced in October 2019, with Atlanta FaZe, Chicago Huntsmen, Dallas Empire, Florida Mutineers, London Royal Ravens, Los Angeles Guerrillas, Minnesota ROKKR, New York Subliners, OpTic Gaming Los Angeles, Paris Legion, Seattle Surge, and Toronto Ultra as the founding teams, featuring players like Ian Porter, Seth Abner, and Dylan Hannon. The league's structure and format were designed in collaboration with MLG, ESL, and other prominent esports organizations, including Blizzard Entertainment and Riot Games.

History

The concept of a professional Call of Duty league was first explored by Activision in 2015, with the launch of the Call of Duty World League, which featured teams like OpTic Gaming, Team Envy, and FaZe Clan. The Call of Duty World League was later replaced by the Call of Duty Pro League in 2018, which included teams like 100 Thieves, Cloud9, and Team Kaliber. The Call of Duty League was officially announced in October 2019, with a focus on city-based teams and a more structured format, similar to the NBA and NFL, with support from ESPN, Twitch, and YouTube. The league's founding teams were announced in November 2019, featuring owners like Mark Cuban, Stan Kroenke, and Jeff Wilpon, who also own teams in the NBA and NFL, such as the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Rams.

Format

The Call of Duty League features a city-based team format, with each team representing a specific city or region, similar to the MLS and NHL. The league is divided into two conferences, the Atlantic Conference and the Pacific Conference, with six teams in each conference, featuring teams like Atlanta FaZe and Los Angeles Guerrillas. The regular season consists of a series of home series and away series, with each team playing a total of 28 matches, similar to the MLB and NBA schedules. The top teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, which feature a single-elimination bracket, similar to the NCAA March Madness and Stanley Cup playoffs.

Teams

The Call of Duty League currently features 12 teams, each representing a specific city or region, including Atlanta FaZe, Chicago Huntsmen, Dallas Empire, Florida Mutineers, London Royal Ravens, Los Angeles Guerrillas, Minnesota ROKKR, New York Subliners, OpTic Gaming Los Angeles, Paris Legion, Seattle Surge, and Toronto Ultra. These teams are owned by a variety of organizations, including Atlanta Esports Ventures, NRG Esports, and OverActive Media, which also own teams in the Overwatch League and League of Legends Championship Series, such as the Atlanta Reign and Toronto Defiant. The teams feature a mix of experienced players, like Dylan Hannon and Seth Abner, and newcomers, like Cameron McKenna and Obaid Asim, who have competed in tournaments like the Call of Duty World Championship and MLG Pro Circuit.

Seasons

The Call of Duty League has completed its inaugural season, which began in January 2020 and concluded in August 2020, featuring a regular season and playoffs. The 2020 season was won by the Dallas Empire, who defeated the Atlanta FaZe in the championship match, with players like Ian Porter and Anthony Wheeler-Coleman competing. The league has also announced plans for future seasons, including the 2021 season, which will feature a similar format and schedule, with teams competing in home series and away series, and the top teams qualifying for the playoffs.

Prize_pools_and_Results

The Call of Duty League features a significant prize pool, with a total of $6 million in prizes awarded during the 2020 season, similar to the Fortnite World Cup and Dota 2 International. The championship match featured a prize pool of $2 million, with the winning team, Dallas Empire, taking home $1.5 million, and the runner-up, Atlanta FaZe, earning $750,000. The league has also announced plans to increase the prize pool for future seasons, with a total of $10 million in prizes expected to be awarded during the 2021 season, with support from sponsors like Mountain Dew, Astro Gaming, and SCUF Gaming.

Players

The Call of Duty League features a talented roster of players, including Ian Porter, Seth Abner, and Dylan Hannon, who have competed in tournaments like the Call of Duty World Championship and MLG Pro Circuit. The league also features a number of up-and-coming players, like Cameron McKenna and Obaid Asim, who are looking to make a name for themselves in the esports scene, with guidance from coaches like Jordan Walsh and James Crowder. The players compete in a variety of game modes, including Hardpoint and Search and Destroy, and are supported by analysts like Jonathan Pfender and Anthony Wheeler-Coleman, who provide commentary and analysis during matches.