*By Christian Smith* Franchise fees to get into season three of the Overwatch League could reach $100 million dollars for investors that don't make the cut for season two. That's according to eSports expert Rod Breslau, better known as "Slasher" in the gaming community. "There is a fear of missing out," Breslau said in an interview Friday with Cheddar. "So I think a lot of these big brands and sports teams in North America and in Europe are going to want to get in now." The 12 teams that played in the inaugural season, which kicked off last December, only had to pay $20 million to Activision Blizzard, the company that created Overwatch. But the cost of entry for *new teams* has spiked along with interest in the game. Overwatch League averages 80,000 to 170,000 concurrent viewers on streaming platform Twitch, and it's brought in $150 million in sponsorship and broadcasting rights deals. [ESPN first reported](http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/23464637/overwatch-league-expansion-slots-expected-30-60-million) that new teams will have to pay between $30 and $60 million in fees for season two, numbers Breslau says his sources confirmed. The Overwatch League announced on Wednesday that it will host the debut season's Grand Finals at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY from July 27-28. Some serious cash is on the line at the championship event. The winning team will receive a $1 million bonus - with nine to 12 players on each team, that works out to a haul of upwards of $100,000 each, in one weekend. The runner-up gets a cash boost of $400,000, and the third and fourth place teams will each haul in an extra $100,000. For anyone new to the world of eSports, Overwatch is a first-person shooter game that was released on May 24, 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment, the same company behind the popular World of Warcraft franchise. Two teams of six players face off in a robot-filled, near-future Earth. Overwatch League teams are allowed to have six additional players that can be swapped between matches. The Overwatch League is currently comprised of 12 teams - nine American ones (Boston, Dallas, Florida, Houston, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and two from Los Angeles) and three international (London, Seoul, and Shanghai). Teams are split between the Atlantic and Pacific divisions. Players make a minimum base salary of $50,000, receive housing during the season, healthcare coverage, and a retirement savings plan according to the [Overwatch League's website](https://overwatchleague.com/en-us/about). The top six teams this season will go head-to-head in the Grand Finals at the Barclays Center. Breslau says he's confident that New York's team will bring home the first-ever Overwatch League trophy. "New York Excel champions season one, no problem. They're going to beat, I would say, the London team in the finals," Breslau said. For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/barclays-center-to-host-first-ever-overwatch-league-grand-finals).

Share:
More In Technology
Visa Looks to Make Cryptocurrency a Mainstream Asset
Cuy Sheffield, head of crypto at Visa, joined Cheddar's "Closing Bell" to talk about Visa's commitment and the partnerships the company has established to make crypto a conventional form of currency. He noted that banks are becoming more receptive to digital currency as their customers move portions of money to crypto platforms and also explained steps Visa is taking to make them more climate conscious.
Boxed Makes Public Market Debut Under New Symbol 'BOXD'
Boxed, an e-commerce grocery platform that sells bulk consumables to businesses and household customers, began trading under the ticket symbol "BOXD" after completing a transaction with SPAC Seven Oaks Acquisition. Chieh Huang, co-founder and CEO of Boxed joins Cheddar News to talk about the company's growth.
Michael Cohen to Sell His Federal Prison Badge as NFT
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, has been busy since completing his prison sentence in November. He's getting into the NFT space, selling his federal prison badge and the original manuscript of his book "Disloyal" as NFTs. Cohen joined Cheddar to discuss his latest venture and why he thinks there is still much to be revealed about his case.
VMG Acquisition Corp. Lists on NASDAQ Under 'VMGAU'
VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp, a blank check company targeting consumer and retail companies, has officially hit Wall Street. The company listed its $200 million IPO on the NASDAQ, trading under the ticker symbol 'VMGAU.' Aarti Kapoor, CEO of VMG Consumer Acquisition Corp, joined Cheddar Movers to discuss.
Lime Connect Team Wins Goldman Sachs' Analyst Impact Fund
Goldman Sachs is getting into the holiday giving spirit with its sixth annual Analyst Impact Fund competition. The Shark-Tank style contest gives Junior Analysts the chance to pitch a charity of their choice to senior leadership, with the winner being granted $250,000 to donate to their chosen non-profit. The team representing Lime Connect, the world's largest network of people with disabilities, has taken home this year's top prize. For more on this, Jim Esposito, Goldman Sachs Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division, and Julian Sanchez, one of this year's winners, joined Cheddar Movers.
Biden Boom, Jussie Guilty & Love, Hate, Ate
Carlo and Baker wrap up the week talking about the Biden economic boom that no one seems to notice, a verdict in the Jussie Smollett case, the first Starbucks union in America and the pleasures of the "dude nod."
Load More