Seoul Dynasty will be the official name of the Overwatch League franchise from Seoul, South Korea, KSV Esports announced Thursday. This marks the sixth team name, logo and colors to be revealed, marking halfway point of the 12 team league. Previously announced were the Shanghai Dragons, Dallas Fuel, San Francisco Shock, Los Angeles Valiant, and the Boston Uprising.
Dynasty refers to two things: the core roster's prior competitive dominance in OGN's Overwatch APEX league as Lunatic-Hai, and the city's history as the capital of the Joseon Dynasty and modern-day South Korea.
Team owner Kevin Chou revealed to ESPN that while the final decision was his own, "Dynasty" was chosen after receiving comprehensive feedback from the team's fans, staff, and players.
"We did consider some very 'Korean' names, such as Haechi, and some more generic names, such as Tigers," he said, "but ultimately we settled for Dynasty, which symbolized all we wanted to represent while also having universal appeal. The players were involved in the whole process, and they were very happy with how it all came out -- the name, the colors, the logo, the meaning."
According to KSV, the Dynasty's tiger-shaped logo "symbolizes strength, courage, and good fortune", and was designed as a modernized royal seal. Black was chosen to "convey elegance and power", while gold was chosen for its historic association with royal dynasties.
All of Lunatic-Hai's OWL-eligible players and coaching staff were bought out by KSV; Lunatic-Hai itself was not. That brand still belongs to its original owner.
A festive send-off for the Dynasty, featuring event matches with potential fan participation, will be held in Seoul on Nov 18. The team's last few signings to complete a 12-man roster for its first season in the Overwatch League will also be announced at the event.