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The Overwatch League is approaching the end of its first season, and that means playoffs are right around the corner. In preparation for the end-of-season tournament, Blizzard announced the location of the first ever Overwatch League Grand Finals: the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The Overwatch League playoffs will begin shortly after the conclusion of Stage 4, with the first round starting on July 11 at the Blizzard Arena in Burbank, California. The playoffs will include the top six teams — the top two in each division, then the four teams in the standings behind them. Once these six teams have played through the first few rounds of the playoffs, leaving only two remaining, they will face off in the Grand Finals at the Barclays Center.
The format for the Grand Finals is new to the Overwatch League as it will technically be a best of three series — the winner will be the first team to win two best of five matches. The first best-of-five of the Grand Finals will be played on July 27, while the second — and possibly third — will take place on July 28, meaning fans who get tickets are guaranteed at least two days at the Barclays Center.
The Barclays Center is one of the premier sports arenas in New York and the home of the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Islanders. This won’t be the first time that the Barclays Center has hosted an esports event, as the venue has played host for the ESL One New York Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament for the last two years and will do so for a third time later this year.