The global Overwatch finals solidified Philly’s esports cred

In the same week that the Philadelphia Fusion broke ground on its new esports stadium coming to the Philadelphia Sports Complex in early 2021, thousands of Overwatch fans came to South Philly to watch the San Francisco Shock challenge the Vancouver Titans.

The international Overwatch League Grand Finals were held in the City of Brotherly Love Sunday night, and while it was solidly a worldwide celebration of the game itself and esports as a growing industry, organizers and fans brought some local flavor to the scene.

The match was streamed on Twitch, broadcasted nationally on ABC and sold out the 12,000 tickets available for the event at the Wells Fargo Center. (The arena can seat 20,000 but it reconfigured its space for the finals.)

Attendees seemed to be rooting for the game itself: The enthusiastic crowd soaking up the techno-blasting, strobe-lit spectacle of it all purchased tickets long before knowing which two teams would be competing. Even so, scores of Fusion fans represented their not-yet-locally-based hometown team by donning their orange jerseys.

Here’s what happened:

Today we crown a new champion right here in Philly.

Good luck to the @VancouverTitans and @SFShock in your Grand Finals match! #OWL2019

— Seoul Infernal (@Infernal) September 29, 2019

Reporting live from @overwatchleague Grand Finals, and boy are the people excited #OWL2019 https://t.co/cAMrMpCrxo pic.twitter.com/eiFBq6q06n

— Technical.ly (@Technical_ly) September 29, 2019

Some of the players, fans or team reps had never experienced Philadelphia before, or had never seen so many Overwatch fans in one place.

Arrived in Philadelphia and saw Wells Fargo center today 🌎 Although my first time here, feel so cozy. pic.twitter.com/TLDyEjxJiC

— JaeHong Hwang (@Andante_OW) September 26, 2019

[Editor’s note: Is this the first time a visitor has described feeling “cozy” upon entering our city? Hats off to esports for making that happen, if so.]

I just spent 16 hours at the Overwatch League Grand Finals. What culture! pic.twitter.com/ErWcbNLpQk

— MC Matt Commander (@MCRotella) September 30, 2019

Packed house to see one of the greatest, most anticipated Overwatch matchups of all time. Let's get it! #OWL2019 pic.twitter.com/NmdKNN1dgH

— Dustin Steiner (@GetSteinered) September 29, 2019

But there were plenty of Philly Fusion fans in the arena, too.

Runaway was one of the first teams I ever knew. When the season started, they absolutely dominated in ways we hadn't seen before. Some of my favorite players and I'll always cherish how drunk!Stitch singing on his stream was one of my entryways into overwatch. Ggwp #ForceOfNature pic.twitter.com/HMhysucbgU

— Alex (@parralex0889) September 29, 2019

EDM artist Zedd performed for the 12,000 fans (and for everyone streaming on Twitch or on television).

I’m here at the Overwatch League’s Grand Finals in Philadelphia, about to take the stage – if you’re not here in the crowd go to https://t.co/SAVu1AAs85 to watch my performance!! 🙂#sponsored #OWL2019 pic.twitter.com/c7x85PHUG4

— Zedd (@Zedd) September 29, 2019

But organizers made sure to bring in Philly-grown Questlove to DJ the event, too.

With a halftime appearance by @questlove #OWL2019 pic.twitter.com/RipSyBPx4i

— Technical.ly (@Technical_ly) September 29, 2019

okay so im at the overwatch league grandfinals and questlove just played darude sandstorm and everyone lost their shit

— Josh 🍕 (@JoshBorja_) September 29, 2019

After hours of game play, the Shock defeated the Titans 4-0, and player Choihyobin was named the match’s VIP.

He's clutch. He's accurate. He's toe-tally amazing!

The @TMobile Grand Finals #OWLMVP goes to none other than the Sigma GOD @Shock_CHB! 🏆@SFShock | #OWL2019

🔴 https://t.co/U6dIipgQGs pic.twitter.com/YPfU68uUTO

— Overwatch Esports (@OW_Esports) September 29, 2019

The event’s a nod to Philly’s standing as a city that’s taking esports very seriously. At the Fusion Arena groundbreaking last week, Dave Scott, chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Wells Fargo Center, called the event a “Super Bowl moment” for the city.

While the arena is still more than a year from opening, there’s plenty of esports events throughout the city coming up. Home games for the Overwatch League will be held at The Met in February and May, and at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in June.

“We like this space — it’s young, digital, diverse and global,” Scott said. “It’s a space we really want to be in.”