Kraft Sports Group and Oxygen Esports enter the CDL

Boston is the newest home to a Call of Duty League franchise, with Kraft Sports Group and Oxygen Esports purchasing the 12th and final spot in the league.

The spot was owned by Team Envy but they needed to sell it after merging with OpTic Gaming and creating the CDL’s OpTic Texas. Kraft Sports Group is owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns the Overwatch League’s Boston Uprising. Now, in partnership with Oxygen Esports, Boston has two spots in Activision Blizzard’s franchised leagues.

Oxygen Esports will run both franchises after partnering with Kraft Sports Group. The organization recently raised $20 million in a new round of funding, which was led by Banner Ventures. New England icons Danny Ainge and Rob Gronkowski also invested in the organization. With this influx of capital, they’ve brought the CDL to Boston and expanded the New England esports market.

Oxygen Esports to run the Boston CDL franchise

The Boston franchise doesn’t yet have a name or a roster of players and staff. However, it’s expected that a roster headlined by Anthony “Methodz” Zinni and Thomas “TJHaLy” Haly will be in firm contention to sign with the organization. This roster was the apparent roster of the Washington Justice ownership group before they backed out of entering the CDL.

Boston and Kraft Sports Group are familiar with championships, and the expectation to build a winning roster in Boston is present from the get-go.

“Boston is no stranger to championship titles, and we fully expect them to build a winner in Boston as we open our third season in Call of Duty League,” Brandon Snow, head of esports at Activision Blizzard, said.

The Kraft family expressed confidence in Oxygen Esports’ ability to accomplish this goal. “By combining the Boston Uprising with Oxygen Esports and the announcement of a Boston Call of Duty League franchise,” they said, “New England will be a powerful player in competitive gaming.”

Oxygen Esports will also firmly root the Boston CDL franchise and the Boston Uprising within the community. In their announcement blog post, the organization stated that both teams will operate out of Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts. This is the home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution. The teams will also be open to fans on a regular basis, hosting weekly tournaments and other events.

The 2022 Call of Duty League season begins early 2022. Boston will presumably announce a name for the franchise and a roster in the coming month.