Think of esports as gamer’s version of athletic championships. Held in arenas packed with excited fans, teams of seasoned gamers compete head-to-head in video games of their choice, often for a cash prize and international recognition. These esports athletes (yes, athletes) spend hours practicing and studying their games, just as professional football players or ballet dancers do.
Despite its relatively recent inception, the popularity of esports tournaments has rocketed year-after-year. Major media networks like ESPN, TBS, and SyFy host live esports events, traditional sports leagues like the NHL and NBA now have their own teams and tournaments, and more than 600 colleges have added varsity esports programs.
While competitive gaming has been around since the 1970s, it wasn’t until the 2000s that the industry gained serious momentum. With the introduction of broadband internet and more powerful gaming consoles, online multiplayer games became increasingly popular and esports started to grow from local tournaments to global competitions. Games like StarCraft and Counter-Strike began to dominate the scene, with large events drawing thousands of spectators.
As the popularity of esports has grown, so too have sponsorship and advertising opportunities. Whether it’s outfitting a professional gaming team with the latest gear or streaming an event on the biggest platforms, companies have jumped at the chance to get their name in front of passionate and engaged audiences. Some even offer esports scholarships to high school students with the potential to become future esports stars.
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