Legendary esports orgs OpTic Gaming (est. 2006) and FaZe Clan (est. 2010) share one of the most storied rivalries in competitive gaming history. Today, their biggest battles often manifest in Call of Duty League playoff matches between franchise squads OpTic Texas and Atlanta FaZe. 

The former have a reputation for extremely passionate fans, but also national acclaim and historical renown for their past roster dynasty of Scump, Crimsix, Formal, and other esteemed players. FaZe, meanwhile, have recently proposed a new dynasty featuring 2022 MVP Cellium and “Tiny Terrors” Simp and Abezy. 

Now, I don’t need to give Saints’ fans any explanation as to why we root against Atlanta on Sundays, but could you just imagine if the Cowboys—“America’s Team” and state neighbors—became members of the NFC South? This hypothetical is somewhat of a pitch to the CDL (Call of Duty League) to give New Orleans a franchise spot, and to give fan-favorite Texas and infamous Atlanta some close competition. I am partial to NOLA FLIGHT as top contenders for the role, although a 25-million-dollar league entry fee far exceeds even the most generous of budgets.

Putting that aside, a New Orleans team to complement the city's NFL and NBA counterparts would make sense for the league as whole. A Southern CDL division could include NOLA, Texas, Atlanta, and my beloved Florida Mutineers. If we’re expanding the league to 14 teams here, we may as well bring a team back to Chicago, too, as the legendary sporting city has been spurned by OpTic’s Chicago Huntsmen and OpTic Chicago, adding more lore to the history book. 

As of now, the Crescent City continues to merely sit in between one of the greatest rivalries in esports, waiting to get in on the action.

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