Houston, there’s a new sports team coming to town – esports, that is. The Houston Outlaws, one of the twelve founding teams of the Overwatch League, are bringing their game to Houston’s Revention Music Center for the first time ever, the weekend of February 29-March 1. On Saturday (2/29) the Outlaws take on the London Spitfire, and Toronto Defiant on Sunday (3/1).
Wondering what the Overwatch League is and why you should go support The Houston Outlaws? Keep reading.
What is the Overwatch League?
First things first. The Overwatch League is a competitive professional esports league where 20 city-based teams made up of the best Overwatch players in the world face off in 28 regular season matches starting in February. After a break for All-Star festivities, eight teams face off in the postseason playoffs in the fall. The teams play Overwatch, Blizzard Entertainment’s popular team-based shooter game. For the 2020 season, the league debuted a home and away game format much like in regular sports, which is why Houston will get to see its home team compete against some of its opponents at home for the very first time.
Who are The Houston Outlaws?
The Outlaws are one of two teams representing Texas in the Overwatch League. The other is the Dallas Fuel. The team is made up of 11 players: Danteh (Dante Cruz), LiNkzr (Jiri Masalin), Hydration (João Pedro Goes Telles), Blasé (Jeffrey Tsang), Muma (Austin Wilmot), Spree (Alexandre Vanhomwegen), MekO (Tae-Hong Kim), Rawkus (Shane Flaherty), Rapel (Jun Keun Kim), Boink (Daniel Pence), Jecse (Seung Soo Lee).
The Houston Outlaws are one of the most popular organizations in the Overwatch League. The Overwatch League is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. The Houston Outlaws proudly represent Houston, San Antonio, Austin, College Station, and surrounding areas.
Boasting some of the most memorable personalities in the league as well as an industry-leading localized outreach program, the Houston Outlaws are among the league leaders in merchandise sales and viewership numbers.
Where and when can I watch the Houston Outlaws?
The Houston Outlaws’s home base will be at the Revention Music Center in downtown Houston. The team’s first homestand game will be on February 29 - March 1 against the London Spitfire, the winner of the league’s first season. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and fans can watch New York Excelsior vs Florida Mayhem and Toronto Defiant vs Atlanta Reign before the Outlaws take the stage at 6 p.m. The team will play at home again on Saturday, March 1 at 6 p.m. against the Toronto Defiant. Three other matches will precede that match (Boston Uprising vs Philadelphia Fusion, Paris Eternal vs Atlanta Reign, London Spitfire vs Florida Mayhem).
What can I expect?
Think of it as going to any other sporting event. The league is highly competitive and you’ll find tons of passionate fans cheering for their favorite team. The festival-like atmosphere of the homestand games only makes the adrenaline-filled competition more exciting. If you’re an esports newbie, check it out; you may just walk away with a new Houston team to root for.
Where can I get tickets?
Single day tickets start at $50 and are good for one of the two dates the team is playing in Houston. Weekend passes give you access to both game dates and start at $90. You can buy single day and weekend passes here.
