Cover-Credits:
Envy Gaming, NRG Esports, and Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez are discussing a deal that would see OpTic Gaming and Dallas Empire merge, according to a report by Dot Esports. If the deal goes through, OpTic Chicago’s spot in Chicago at the Call of Duty League (CDL) will be open. The report states that the paperwork for the deal is yet to be finalized but the discussion arose due to OpTic Chicago owner and backer looking to break off from NRG Esports. This is not the first time that reports of H3CZ wanting to break off from NRG esports have surfaced. In May, Dexerto reported that H3CZ is looking to solely own OpTic Chicago and divest from NRG.
Dallas Empire and OpTic will come under the same ownership if the deal goes through
If the deal between Envy Gaming, NRG Esports, and H3CZ goes through, it would possibly lead to the retirement of the Empire brand and Dallas would be adopting the OpTic name. H3CZ and Empire owner, Mike “Hastr0” Rufail would likely manage the organization if the deal goes through.
The report reveals that H3CZ and NRG have been at odds for nearly a year and H3CZ reportedly revealed to his colleagues that he did not want to work together with the brand anymore in fall 2020. NRG signed a contract with H3CZ that would allow the OpTic Gaming owner to find funding from investors and buy the organization out of OpTic and take over the brand and slot. H3CZ reportedly was unable to fund the acquisition of OpTic in time which defaulted the deal with NRG.
The report revealed that the CDL “specially approved a deal that would see H3CZ be responsible for payroll and operations cost of OpTic and avoid the traditional vetting process imposed by the league for an acquirer.” H3CZ did not pay the costs and NRG funded the team. H3CZ now wants to break away from the NRG brand and if the deal with Envy goes through, the Chicago slot in the CDL will be up for sale.
OpTic and Empire have cut two players each from active CDL rosters, which fuels the speculations that both brands could be merging. It remains to be seen if the reports and speculation are true but if OpTic merges with Empire, H3CZ’s organization will be moving to its third location in the CDL within two years.
