CDL General Manager Affirms the Profitability of CoD Esports

With the Call of Duty League (CDL) seeing a surge in viewership, interest from new teams is on the rise, eager to tap into the league’s monetization potential. However, before any expansion can take place, the CDL needs to ensure its current structure is solid.

At the CDL Champs 2026 event in Las Vegas, the general manager of Call of Duty esports, Daniel Tsay, shared insights about the existing franchises and future expansion plans. While Tsay dreams of growing the league from its current 12 teams to 16, he emphasizes the importance of not rushing the process.

“When I think about the 12 that we have, I think it’s really important that we make sure we have healthy 12 team franchises. We have some teams that may want to exit. Some teams that would want to enter,” Tsay noted.

He further explained, “I’d rather us focus on the core before we ever think about expanding.” Although the league has the potential to grow at any moment, Tsay believes that adjustments need to be made within the existing teams first.

Conversely, some organizations are hesitant about joining the CDL due to concerns over profitability. For instance, Spacestation Gaming was rumored to be a potential entrant but ultimately decided against it, citing revenue concerns and a shortage of available talent. The decision to join the CDL can vary significantly based on factors like an organization’s fanbase size and location.

Tsay pointed out that teams might not have a complete understanding of the league’s financial landscape: “Obviously, we don’t know what has been told to them, but what I can say is they probably don’t see all of the team finances the way the league does.”

He highlighted that teams within the league are actively seeking ways to monetize their presence, with ongoing discussions between team owners and the league about potential opportunities. This includes team-hosted Majors, sponsorships, and in-game bundles, which can be quite profitable for teams with large followings.

“It’s definitely lucrative, and it’s built that way where if you have a lot of fandom, you will be lucrative, which is exactly what our owners asked for,” Tsay stated.

While it appears that the CDL will remain at 12 teams through 2027, roster changes and organizational shifts are likely, especially with the upcoming release of Modern Warfare 4 set to impact the competitive landscape.