Team Envy CEO Mike ‘hastr0’ Rufail defended Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag after 100 Thieves released a statement saying they will not be playing in the Call of Duty League 2020.
100 Thieves released a video statement on August 29 announcing their departure from CoD at the end of the 2019 season, citing the buy-in to the new franchised league to be “too much” for the organization.
Fans of the franchise have expressed their disappointment of the team’s departure from the scene, with hastr0 being one of many to comment on the situation.
100 Thieves, who won two tournaments during the 2019 CWL season, will not be in CoD esports come 2020.
The Dallas franchise owner highlighted the financial risks of a team entering the Call of Duty World League, which is moving to a franchised model in 2020. The buy-in of $25 million requires large upfront investment which some organisations have chosen not to front up.
“I can understand [100 Thieves’] decision to not take that risk,” he said. “I can also understand how bought in 100 Thieves are with that brand and for us [at Envy], it’s the same thing.”
- Read more: 100 Thieves pull out of CoD
Envy’s brand has revolved around the Call of Duty scene since it started in 2007, and organisations like FaZe Clan, OpTic Gaming, and 100 Thieves have their roots embedded into the game’s competitive scene as well. Hastr0 said that it would have been “hard to let that go” for Nadeshot and 100 Thieves.
Envy is confirmed for CDL 2020 as the Dallas franchise.
On a personal level, hastr0 felt emotional about having one of Call of Duty’s most iconic figures step away from the scene.
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“It’s a little bit emotional to see guys that I competed against for so many years having to bow out of this competition now,” he admitted. “It’s a little surreal to be honest because I feel like we are now missing this organ – because it is like a vital part of what competitive Call of Duty was.”
Hats off to you @Nadeshot – seriously. You have done so much for COD. I wanted to say a few things to every COD esports fan out there about the future and give my perspective on what’s happening around our decision to create @COD_Dallas. pic.twitter.com/gb7IYFkebt
— Mike Rufail (@hastr0) August 29, 2019
However, the CEO is looking forward to the future of Call of Duty esports and the Dallas franchise.
- Read more: Reciprocity CoD players announce free agency
“We are going to have to create something new, we are going to need a huge capital investment, and I honestly think what drove [Envy] to do something like that was the fact that we did plan to flag in Dallas.”
“We are Dallas’ home team right now in regard to what we have going with the Overwatch League.”
With 100 Thieves not entering CDL 2020, franchises like Dallas’ might be able to snap up some top-quality talent, including one or more members of 100T’s former roster.
Keep up with all of the off-season roster moves and team changes via our dedicated CoD franchising RosterMania hub.
