The Call of Duty League (CDL) is one of the most ambitious eSports leagues in the world, but it is getting out of hand. On February 23, the owners of the Los Angeles Guerrillas said they would sell their spot in the CDL and Activision’s other eSports league, the Overwatch League.
If they can’t find a buyer, they will shut down. If they can’t find a buyer, they will be the fifth group to sell or try to sell their spot since the first season of the CDL ended in 2020. This situation shows a bigger problem, and the CDL needs to change direction to stop things from falling apart even more.
One solution is to discontinue paying the $25 million franchise fees. When the buy-in fee was first announced, fans laughed at it because Call of Duty esports wasn’t as good as top games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or League of Legends.
Why the Call of Duty League is on the Brink of Implosion
Activision had a clear plan to charge a lot and make big promises, hoping that it would work out. Both endemic and non-endemic organizations scraped together money to buy in, only to find out that they wouldn’t be making money for a while. Teams are now having trouble finding buyers who will take on their responsibilities.
To get back on track, the CDL should really think about making a few key changes from the top down. A simple way to solve the problem would be to lower the fees people have to pay to join.
Activision wants investors to think that Call of Duty is an eSport, but it’s not. That’s fine. But those who have already invested are struggling to keep the lights on while Activision holds out their hands and asks for more money.
Making the league easier to join is another important change. The success of eSports is built on the passion and hard work of the community, and the CDL has missed the mark in this way.
Because Activision is focused on making big investments, they haven’t paid attention to the community and haven’t been able to build a fan base that will support the league.
The league needs to build its base from the bottom up, focusing on making fans who are involved and passionate. They need to be easier to reach, hold more community events, and give fans more things to do.
Lastly, the CDL needs to find different ways to make money. It’s not possible to live off of sponsorships and franchise fees alone. The league needs to think of other ways to make money, like selling tickets, merchandise, or media rights.
The success of the league depends on how well it can find new ways to make money and become more financially independent.
