Do people really like teams because of the brands behind them? That just seems absurd to me. I like teams based on the players and staff, not because they’re backed by some multimillion dollar org.
I usually like some teams (i.e. 100T, PRX, and TL) because of how the management select players that prepare a positive dynamic not only in competitions, but also in content videos and vlogs. Also, branding is just money being tossed into an antique wheelbarrow, where it creates less value for the audience.
like what dexter said, ive been a fan of nadeshot back when he competed and a long term fan of optic until the main people left the org (before hecz got it back and such) and i fully commited to 100T since then cause it was own and created by nade and seem like the only "home" for me. I really admire what nade has done for the esports space and the players on the team are all great personalities and talent
yeah i rooted for them wayyyy back like masters 1 2021, but they kind of came out of nowhere. i think thats pretty cool. and theres not really much to hate about them. i definitely wasnt sad or annoyed that they won masters 2 2022, which is the opposite of how i felt about teams like optic and acend winning.
Most people support banners, teams, not because theyre backed by million dollar orgs but despite them being backed by million dollar orgs. People who support barcelona or real madrid didnt suddenly stop supporting them once messi and cr7 left, only bandwagoners. Thats why most 100t fans were still 100t fans after they nuked pretty much the whole rosters and added tier2 players
I can only speak about cs teams, but I followed the astralis guys since tsm and didn't care about tsm once they left, now that astralis lost 3 (4 with zonic) of their players I started liking vitality, because they moved there, but I still like astralis, because I'm a xyp simp and I like gla1ve goat igl, but I can feel that if they retire or leave I won't be following them as much anymore.
I was never really into esports, but I watched my fair share coming from CS. Thats why when 100T first anounced their rebuild (their first rebuild way back when) with some of my favorite CS pros, I got excited and along with my friends we watched the pro scene for the first time in a while. I think thats why big teams that had sucess in CS make me the most excited and I tend to overrate them, which isnt a bad thing. Teams like NV, C9, and liquid are my favorites, but I will always be a 100T valornant fan.