Former Canadian Olympic Committee CEO to Join Toronto Overwatch League Franchise
Former Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Overholt will reportedly be the President of the Toronto Overwatch League franchise.
Overholt announced his departure from the COC on September 5 after eight years with the organization, staying only that his new role in a leadership position would be announced soon.
According to a report by SportsBusinessDaily, that new role will be as President of the Toronto Overwatch League franchise. The Toronto spot is among eight reported expansion teams for Season Two of the league, owned by a group led by Canadian entrepreneur Michael Kimel and to be operated by esports organization Splyce.
Having previously held positions as the Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Miami Dolphins NFL team and the Florida Panthers NHL team, Overholt is one of the most high-profile execs to make the switch from sports to esports. According to the SBD report, Overholt’s involvement was a condition for Blizzard to sell the Toronto spot.
According to ESPN, the Toronto spot was sold for $35 million, a significant increase compared to the $20 million payed by season one teams. Other expansion teams are reportedly being sold for up to $60 million, with the exact price for each depending on several factors including the Overwatch player-base and general population in the location.
So far only Atlanta and Guangzhou expansion teams have been officially announced, but reports suggest that as well as Toronto, new franchises will include teams based in Paris, Washington D.C., Vancouver, and both Hangzhou and Chengdu in China.