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[CountAntonius]

The Score Esports

Manchester United Football Club and Fnatic have entered a bidding war, with both organizations looking to sign the same Overwatch team, according to a report by eSports News UK's Dom Sacco.

According to the report, both organizations are looking to sign an already-sponsored Overwatch roster. Manchester United approached the team first, leading Fnatic to make a counter-offer and Manchester United to make their own counter-offer. The report also states that a third, unnamed organization is interested in the team but Manchester United is "unfazed" by the other offers.

Manchester United is a Premier League soccer team, and have won 20 league titles, 12 FA cups, three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup, making them among the most successful teams in British soccer. Manchester is also one of the most valuable soccer teams in the world, valued at $1.2 billion by Brand Finance in 2015.

Fnatic is among the most successful organizations in esports, with five European League of Legends Championship Series titles, and two Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship titles. Fnatic currently fields teams in LoL, CS:GO, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, SMITE and Battlefield.

Manchester United would not be the first major soccer brand to get involved in esports. German soccer team FC Schalke 04 recently signed the EU LCS roster formerly known as Elements, Valencia CF signed four Hearthstone players and West Ham United has signed a FIFA 16 player.

It's fascinating to see these giant sports organizations make a run at E-Sports.

 

[patapuf]

This is just bizarre to me, and i like e-sports.

 

[Madchad]

It all sounds amazing until SKY snatches up the broadcasting rights.

 

[Falchion]

That's nuts, wonder what the offers were.

 

[Klyka]

Cheers love, the moneybags are here!

 

[Shin-chan]

I suppose this is the equivalent of white goods manufacturers establishing themselves in BRICS economies - trying to get in early to make sure you're a big player when the market has developed a bit.

Hopefully some success is made and it encourages more big brands to give it a stab.

The only e sport I've ever liked was Dota 2 and I don't even follow that anymore, but I still think it's an interesting growth area in gaming.

 

[Firestorm]

I hope it's Reunited and they call it Manchester Reunited.

 

[Puck Beaverton]

"Manchester United in bidding war with Fnatic over Overwatch team"

What a time to be alive.

 

[mekes]

As long as they are better than Fellaini.

 

[Nirolak]

So who is Wayne Rooney going to play?

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

UNITED UNITED UNITED UNITED UNITED!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sjefen]

isnt United one of the richest clubs in the world?

 

[Acidote]

Mourinho is shaking the MUFC institution.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

You are my Solskjaer, 
My Ole Solskjaer, 
You make me happy, 
When skies are grey, 
Oh Alan Shearer, 
Was f*cking dearer, 
So please don't take, 
My Solskjaer away... 

 

[Heebie Jeebies]

About time we got in a bidding war again, none of this 'value in the market' bollocks.

 

[_Legacy_]

This is amazing and very good for United if they get the deal, they've always been ahead of the other premier league clubs when it comes to marketing/expanding fan base, and I'm an Arsenal fan.

 

[Rainy]

The team will leave for Real Madrid anyway.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Munny is funny for big Ed Woody.

He's been splashing the cash like mad since he took the reigns.

I would mind some FFXV product placement.

 

[roddjbrown]

This is amazing and very good for United if they get the deal, they've always been ahead of the other premier league clubs when it comes to marketing/expanding fan base, and I'm an Arsenal fan.

...at the expense of on the field performance...

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

This is strange on so many levels.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

So who is Wayne Rooney going to play?

Winston.

 

[roddjbrown]

Winston.

Turn off the modems, the Internet has been won

 

[Lucumo]

This is strange on so many levels.

Why? Schalke 04 owns a League of Legends team.

http://eu.lolesports.com/en/team/fc-schalke-04

 

[SOR5]

What the hell are you doing Man U

 

[Apathy]

Never in my wildest dreams would have thought I would ever read a title like that

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I've only watched a little bit of take.tv's tournament but do people think Overwatch is going to be big in esports?

 

[BumblebeeCody]

Tracer confirmed with Old Trafford Uniform

 

[aeolist]

I've only watched a little bit of take.tv's tournament but do people think Overwatch is going to be big in esports?

it's kept up pretty good numbers on twitch since launch and has gotten some pretty talented players since closed beta

it kinda feels like sponsors and orgs are putting the cart before the horse and we'll need to wait and see how big blizzard-run tournaments perform but it wouldn't surprise me to see it take off

 

[Zemm]

Kinda weird. I don't really see this game taking off as a big e-sport but I guess having a team like fnatic might help?

 

[CountAntonius]

Kinda weird. I don't really see this game taking off as a big e-sport but I guess having a team like fnatic might help?

No reason it wouldn't. What it lacks in technical depth(in regards to aiming and recoil control etc) it makes up for in the teamwork strategy with hero synergy and combining ults.

 

[Zemm]

No reason it wouldn't. What it lacks in technical depth(in regards to aiming and recoil control etc) it makes up for in the teamwork strategy with hero synergy and combining ults.

It's a mess to watch and it feels like only US clans are interested atm. The game definitely has depth. I'm also not sure if there's room for another big fps e-sport alongside CSGO.

 

[Audioboxer]

Man Utd pls, sort the real fucking team out first with signings.

 

[Casual Gamera]

Winston.

Poor Winston. Has to hide away so he doesn't scare the children.

 

[Bergerac]

Well if you can't win the league...

 

[Flayer]

Why? Schalke 04 owns a League of Legends team.

http://eu.lolesports.com/en/team/fc-schalke-04

I love the fact that one of these guys uses the in-game name of 'Steve' despite being French.

 

[CountAntonius]

It's a mess to watch and it feels like only US clans are interested atm. The game definitely has depth. I'm also not sure if there's room for another big fps e-sport alongside CSGO.

As long as there is interest and money the scene will be there. Lo of old pros for TF2 and Quake are joining in.

 

[Audioboxer]

Also I wonder if 1.2 billion is enough to get 10 legendary skins?

 

[Akuun]

I've only watched a little bit of take.tv's tournament but do people think Overwatch is going to be big in esports?

I'm not convinced it'll take off in the long term. I think the big push on making it an e-sport feels pretty manufactured at the moment, with big e-sports stages and events right after the game is out. The competitive games themselves are pretty repetitive, with all teams often fielding very similar compositions/strategies, with some rather boring hero stacking at times.

I remember seeing some tournament where every match had 2-3 McRees on each team and it wasn't fun to watch at all.

 

[ksan]

It's a mess to watch and it feels like only US clans are interested atm. The game definitely has depth. I'm also not sure if there's room for another big fps e-sport alongside CSGO.

It's probably a matter of them giving better offers from what I've understood.

I remember seeing some tournament where every match had 2-3 McRees on each team and it wasn't fun to watch at all.

That's why 1 hero limit is starting to be a thing in competitive!

 

[Rellik]

Ed Woodward is out of control.

He'll somehow manage to get 3 new commercial deals out of this.

 

[iJudged]

Woooooooooooooo

 

[bjaelke]

Why? Schalke 04 owns a League of Legends team.

http://eu.lolesports.com/en/team/fc-schalke-04

And Valencia as of 2 days ago: http://en.valenciacf.com/ver/59046/valencia-cf-create-an-esports-team---.html

It's the new Superleague Formula

 

[Courage]

Man Utd pls, sort the real fucking team out first with signings.

SKY Sources: It was between this or Pogba but Mourinho really likes Overwatch #SSNHQ

 

[borghe]

It's a mess to watch and it feels like only US clans are interested atm. The game definitely has depth. I'm also not sure if there's room for another big fps e-sport alongside CSGO.

assuming broadcaster's have all been using blizz's broadcasting UI,

it's actually completely dependent on the broadcaster's ability to broadcast a compelling presentation. I will say that (for me) it is WAY more interesting and easy to follow than any MOBA. but as with any sort of competition presentation, you need to know both the camera shots and how to present the action.

as for GO, this has WAY more potential than GO, if only because of the visual design. the typical blizz attention to design has paid off here in spades.

 

[The 18th Letter]

I don't understand how one of the biggest sports clubs in the world is in a bidding war with an e-sports org.

The only team I feel like it could be is Luminosity since there hasn't been any meaningful tournaments to warrant a bidding war. LG has Seagull who has become one of the more popular streamers so that exposure would be worth it

 

[Dami3N]

Manchester united is a football club.. its in the name.
Manchester united fc..
Manchester united football club...

soccer.... pfthhh

 

[Deleted member 325805]

Great for the team.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

So who is Wayne Rooney going to play?

I don't think there is a character that looks like Shrek unfortunately.

 

[Mase Gumble]

Sounds like bollocks to me, unless Ed Woodward has got some Mark to put up money in Uniteds name.

 

[Aters]

I have a feeling MU is not going to get in top 4 this season. They are going to be the next Liverpool.