Activision confirmed two more city franchises for the upcoming iteration of its Call of Duty league, locking in both Florida as well as a second Los Angeles-based franchise. Misfits Gaming, owner of the Florida Mayhem in the Overwatch League, will serve as owners and operators of the Florida squad. Meanwhile, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, owner of the Overwatch League’s Los Angeles Gladiators, picked up the second Los Angeles-based franchise for the league. Kroenke joins Immortals Gaming Club once again in sharing the market. Other cities include confirmed include a Minnesota franchise, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Paris, and Toronto. An official start date for the franchised Call of Duty league has yet to be announced.
Speaking of which, Activision firmed up expectations for its new CoD franchises, detailing rules and expectations for the new-look league. All teams must carry at least seven players on their rosters, the company announced on Reddit, and every player in the league must have a minimum salary of $50,000, with health care and retirement benefits. Teams will also be required to provide the players with at least 50 percent of their prize pool earnings. In addition, Activision said it will support Path to Pro events, which will be held online and offline with dedicated prize pools. Teams will have a small window to sign its current players to new contracts for next year’s league stating ug. 26, before opening the door for all teams will to negotiate and sign players, pending their contract status, starting Sept. 3.
