Cloud9 New York BO7 Season Preview
Cloud9 New York Black Ops 7 Season Preview: Back in the Clouds
The offseason is officially over, which means the Call of Duty League is finally here. With new franchises, a great competitive game, & new rosters across the League, it is shaping up to be one of the best CDL seasons to date.
The next era of Cloud9 is here. After purchasing the franchise slot from the Subliners last year, they have done a complete rebuild heading into Black Ops 7. Signing four veterans, including Ben "Beans" McMellon, gives them an early advantage in the season. Can they take advantage of it?
In this season preview, we’ll dive into Cloud9’s offseason moves, key players to watch, and what are their expectations compared to the competition within the CDL.
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📸 Photo by @C9COD_
Offseason Recap: Storm Clouds Avoided
Signings:
+ Marcus "Afro" Reid
+ Ben "Beans" McMellon
+ Makenzie "Mack" Kelley
+ Reece "Vivid" Drost
+ Arian Chitsaz (Coach)
Departures:
- Kris "Spart" Cervantez
- Daunte "Sib" Gray
- Kyle "Kremp" Haworth
- Isaiah "Gwinn" Gwinn
- Lamar "Accuracy" Abedi (Coach)
Offseason Reactions
Ronnie: "C9's first season in the CDL was disappointing, prompting the team to approach this season with a fresh perspective. Signing the OMIT duo of Mack and Vivid seems like a smart move, especially given C9's financial capabilities in the current market. Both players bring valuable CDL-level experience and are coming off strong performances in the Challengers. Afro and Beans present a bit more risk, but they also carry significant upside. At their best, both players can compete with top-tier talent. Ensuring they are placed in the right system will be crucial for their success. Overall, both pairs should complement each other well in-game."
Easy Mac: “It can be difficult in the offseason for orgs that don't have the budgets to compete with the upper echelons of the League. Teams have to take more risks & try to find performance in any way they can. New York went down a different path this year, signing four veterans instead of any rookies like other midfield teams. Signing the duo of Beans & Afro is a move I like. Afro ripped through Challengers last year & deserves another shot in the League, while I still believe in Bean's slaying power."
The Cloud9 New York roster heading into Black Ops 7:
○ Marcus "Afro" Reid
○ Ben "Beans" McMellon
○ Makenzie "Mack" Kelley
○ Reece "Vivid" Drost
○ Arian Chitsaz (Coach)
Season Expectations
Ronnie: "I believe that both the players and staff will have higher expectations for themselves this year than many fans do. They are likely aiming to become a true dark horse for champs.
In my opinion, a successful season for organizations like this is typically defined by qualifying for the championships. However, I get the sense that Cloud9 has the potential for a standout weekend if everything aligns perfectly. A lot will depend on how Boston and Miami perform. If they experience any setbacks, I can see C9 stepping in and causing significant upsets."
Season Predictions
Best Placement: 6th
Team MVP: Afro
Final Regular Season Seed: 10th
Will they qualify for Champs: No
Easy Mac: “Looking at the midfield battle, it's just loaded this season. I have Boston & Riyadh as the final two seeds for Champs currently, which leaves teams like Minnesota & New York on the outside looking in. They are still good teams that will be competitive in the season, playing the role of spoiler in tournaments & for qualifying. I wouldn't be shocked to see them place high than my predicted Top 6 best placement."
Season Predictions
Best Placement: Top 6
Team MVP: Beans
Final Regular Season Seed: 10th
Will they qualify for Champs: No
📸 Photo by @p3ngu7n
Players to Watch in Black Ops 6
Ronnie: Ben "Beans" McMellon
"Beans has faced a challenging few years in the CDL. While he has always shown promise, it often feels like his potential hasn’t been fully realized, especially after what many believed was the perfect roster for him in Toronto was derailed by an unexpected issue with a border agent.
Now reuniting with Vivid, a player with whom he had his best Call of Duty moments on Boston, this partnership could be a key factor in the team’s performance, something that many people seem to be overlooking. Consistency has always been Beans' biggest issue, as it is with many players at this level. However, if he can finally find a solid roster that sticks together for an entire season through the ups and downs, I can truly see his abilities shining."
Easy Mac: Marcus "Afro" Reid
“I'm putting my chips on Beans bouncing back & being the leading slayer for New York. He'll need someone to step up as well, and my pick is Afro. The Englishman has had many highs in his past stints in the CDL, but consistency has always been the issue. He had a 1.03 K/D in the Monester Kickoff Invitational, which included a 1.15 in Hardpoint with 28.1 kills and 3640 damage per 10 minutes. This game looks like it could suit him, and Cloud9 will need that if they wish to find success this season.
Stage 1 Matches
Qualifier Match 1: December 6th vs Cloud9 New York
Qualifier Match 2: December 7th vs OpTic Texas
Qualifier Match 3: December 12th vs Boston Breach
Qualifier Match 4: January 9th vs Riyadh Falcons
Qualifier Match 5: January 11th vs Carolina Royal Ravens
Qualifier Match 6: January 18th vs FaZe Vegas
Qualifier Match 7: January 24th vs Toronto KOI