Misfits Gaming and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment have acquired slots in the upcoming Call of Duty franchise league, Activision Blizzard Esports announced on Tuesday.
Misfits Gaming landed the Florida slot, while Kroenke purchased a Los Angeles slot. Each paid $25 million for a franchise, according to published reports.
"Both ownership groups have a shared commitment to the growth of esports and building professional teams in their markets that home fans can be proud of and rally behind in the new city-based format," Call of Duty esports commissioner Johanna Faries said in a statement.
The transactions raise the number of committed franchises to nine.
Los Angeles now has two teams as Immortal Gaming Club previously scored a franchise.
The Kroenke family owns the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche among other teams. They also own the Los Angeles Gladiators of the Overwatch League.
The other franchises are Atlanta Esports Ventures, Envy Gaming in Dallas, WISE Ventures in Minnesota, Sterling VC in New York, c0ntact Gaming in Paris and OverActive Media in Toronto.
The franchise model replaces the previous format where a 16-team league played at Major League Gaming Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The league is scheduled to launch in 2020.
--Field Level Media