Team owners praise Call of Duty League after new finance alleviations
It's been a long time coming, but the Call of Duty League has finally made a move on the franchised model that once offered so much promise.
To fans' surprise, after years of trying their hardest to stick with this current method, Activision has reneged on the original franchise proposal, and teams will be getting their buy-ins refunded and any outstanding fees waivered, alongside a new deal to bump the finances of teams who can sell their brand in-game.
Now, the CDL looks set for a new healthy reign, and team owners are in agreement.
Toronto Ultra CEO hails CDL after CDL fees agreement
Click to enlargeFollowing the announcement earlier today, team owners have now spoken out about the changes, heavily praising the renewed system.
"This is a landmark agreement for OverActive Media around a long-term commitment to the Call of Duty League that benefits all major stakeholders," said Toronto Ultra and OverActive Media CEO, Adam Adamou, in a statement provided by Activision.
Part of the new agreement that has been highlighted is the new revenue streams for in-game purchases, as the CDL revealed a higher percentage will now be given to teams on the basis that they sell their bundles to a minimum benchmark.
This works in tandem with Ultra, as Amadou recently claimed that Ultra had the most-sold team pack in the CDL for Modern Warfare 3, beating out both of the gargantuan OpTic and FaZe fan bases.
"This model recognizes the key role that organizations like Toronto Ultra and our partners have played in the expansion and growth of Call of Duty esports and maximizes the opportunities for us, our partners and our fans while retaining the critical elements that have made the Call of Duty League such an incredible product," Amadou added.
Maimi Heretics owner 'thrilled' at the future of the CDL
Click to enlarge
Echoing a similar stance is Miami Heretics Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ben Spoont, who admits to being "thrilled" at the news, fresh off the bat of hosting the most recent CDL Major.
"Following months of collaboration with the Call of Duty League, we are excited to enter a new phase of the CDL with our Team interests closely aligned with those of the League," Spoont said.
Teams will now also get extra subsidiaries provided by Activision to host events, after the CDL moved away from hosting Majors themselves and allowed teams to partner with TOs and production companies to put on their home series', in accordance with the schedule.
This now means it's more likely that teams such as Miami Heretics will be wanting to host more Majors, and we will scarcely see another instance of a Major being cancelled and played behind closed doors, such as what just happened with Carolina Royal Ravens.
"The newly restructured League puts our Team on solid financial footing and positions us to succeed as a key member of North America’s premier esport. We are thrilled to continue competing against the best COD players in the world and we plan to bring home wins and trophies for years to come,” added Spoont.
The CDL now looks set for at least two more prosperous years in a partnered league setting, and fans are now looking forward to seeing what the possibilities are now that the buy-ins are alleviated.
Expansions...?
