Amid doubts about theCall of Duty League’sfuture, Activision reached a new agreement with organizations that better support teams financially moving forward.
Activision made four concessions to team owners in anew dealthat should help support theCall of Duty League’sfuture. First, theCDLcanceled entry fees and will issue a full refund of the $25.1 million. Activision will also give each team a one-time $2 million payment. Next, teams will earn increased revenue from their store bundles inModern Warfare 3and theCDLChamps bundle. To incentivize hosting events, the league is increasing event subsidy amounts for organizations who step forward and host Major, Opens, and Champs. Lastly, teams will receive a two-year minimum guarantee of revenue.
“Our teams have a huge role in shaping that future, and by investing more in them with these changes, we hope to continue propelling the CDL forward,” Activisionsaid.
On March 1 OpTic Gaming founder Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez andCall of Dutylegend Seth “Scump” originally got the ball moving by filing alawsuitagainst Activision Blizzard seeking nearly $700 million in damages for holding an “unlawful monopoly” over theCall of DutyLeague. On March 13, H3CZ and Scump had their lawsuitdismissed by a U.S. court, putting the final decision in the hands of an arbitrator.
Tensions around the League’s health certainly weren’t eased when Activisionannouncedon April 11 that Charlotte would no longer host Major 4. The LAN event will now occur without a live audience in Burbank, CA, from June 27 to 30. An increased event subsidy amount should hopefully present this problem happening for a third straight year next season. Since teams will now earn more revenue, and there is no longer an exorbitant entry fee, this deal also opens the door for new organizations to field a competitiveCoDteam. Activision’s re-commitment to theCDLshould hopefully clear up any immediate doubts about the league’s future.
