Overwatch League Announces Official Beer Sponsorship

The legitimacy of esports has always been at the center of many conversations over the years. [...]

By Eric Garrett

Overwatch League Bud Light Sponsor

The legitimacy of esports has always been at the center of many conversations over the years. However, with the likes of the League of Legends Championship Series and the Overwatch League rising to significant levels in terms of fans and exposure, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue that electronic sports aren't a part of the mainstream. That said, the Overwatch League has secured a beer sponsor in Bud Light, which is just another aspect the OWL is adding to align themselves with the likes of traditional sports.

It was recently announced that the official Overwatch League beer is Bud Light, after a partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev was revealed. The collaboration went into effect for this weekend's Dallas Bud Light Homestand Weekend, which was the first of four events that will take place over the course of this season that will feature the Bud Light brand. The other three will be an Atlanta event in July, the LA Rivalry Weekend, and the Overwatch League Grand Finals, which are set for later this year.

In a statement, chief revenue officer of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues Brandon Snow said, "We're very happy to be working with a company that finds value in bringing fans together to celebrate the very best in competitive entertainment." In addition to the sponsored events, Bud Light will also be sponsoring the televised broadcasts of the events on ESPN2 and ABC.

Of course, the Dallas event as well as the others are meant to gauge fan interest in what the Overwatch League will be doing next year. In 2020, the league will be playing out more like traditional sports, in that home and away games will be played in the corresponding cities, as opposed to just being played at the Blizzard Arena. Needless to say, interesting times are ahead.

What do you think about all of this? Are you surprised to see Bud Light become a sponsor of the Overwatch League? What other moves do you expect to be made to ensure esports legitimacy in the future? Sound off in the comment section below, or feel free to hit me up over on Twitter @anarkE7!

Thanks, Esports Insider!

-----

Have you subscribed to ComicBook Nation, the official Podcast of ComicBook.com yet? Check it out by clicking here or listen below.

In this latest episode, we go all in on Avengers:Endgame! This is the spoiler filled discussion you've been waiting for after coming out of the movie and we cover a ton of ground. Make sure to subscribe now and never miss an episode!

0comments
Start the Conversation

of