Esports, or competitive video gaming, has experienced an explosive rise in popularity over the past decade. In fact, many experts predict that the industry will surpass traditional sports in terms of viewership and revenue in the near future. This rise has not just impacted the gaming industry, but it’s also had a significant impact on traditional sports.
Despite its relatively recent emergence, esports has already secured major partnerships with sports companies and organizations. In 2018, Major League Baseball (MLB) partnered with video game publisher Riot Games to host the League of Legends Championship Series at the Oakland Coliseum. Similarly, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been discussing the possibility of including esports in the Olympic Games.
Along with these major partnerships, esports has also drawn the attention of major investors. In 2019, the largest esports league, the League of Legends Championship Series, was valued at $1.5 billion, and the industry as a whole is projected to be worth $1.6 billion by 2023.
So, why is esports having such a profound impact on traditional sports?
One major reason is the changing media landscape. Younger generations are consuming less traditional media like television and print, and more digital media like streaming services and social media. Esports is particularly well-suited to this trend because it is primarily consumed online. Tournaments are streamed live on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms, and esports fans are more likely to interact with the content they consume through social media.
This trend is making many traditional sports leagues take notice. In 2018, the NBA launched the NBA 2K League, which features professional gamers playing the basketball video game NBA 2K. The league streams its games on Twitch, and players are drafted onto teams just like in the traditional NBA. Similarly, the NFL has partnered with EA Sports to launch the Madden NFL Club Championship, another tournament-style league featuring the popular football video game Madden NFL.
Another way esports is impacting traditional sports is by engaging younger fans. Esports appeals primarily to younger generations, who often find traditional sports to be slow-paced and unrelatable. By incorporating elements of esports, traditional sports leagues are able to attract younger fans who may not have been previously interested in watching games.
Additionally, esports is more accessible to fans than traditional sports. Attending a professional sports game can be expensive and time-consuming, but watching an esports tournament can be done from the comfort of one’s own home. This accessibility means that esports can reach a wider audience, which has the potential to bring in more revenue for leagues and sponsors.
Esports’ rise is also having an impact on the sports industry beyond just in-game content. The esports industry has developed a unique culture, with its own set of stars, personalities, and fans. Many traditional sports leagues are now trying to tap into this culture to appeal to younger fans.
For example, the NBA has invested in its own esports league, but it’s also created additional content around the league that emphasizes its unique personalities and storylines. NBA 2K players are given “MyCareer” modes that allow them to create their own players, and the NBA has capitalized on this by producing additional content that fictionalizes the players’ off-court lives.
Esports’ rise has also created new job opportunities in the sports industry. As esports continues to grow, more traditional sports leagues are investing in their own esports teams and leagues, which has created jobs for individuals with expertise in both gaming and sports. These jobs include roles in esports team management, esports journalism, and sports broadcasting.
Esports and traditional sports are not mutually exclusive, and there is a lot of potential for the two to complement each other. As esports continues to rise in popularity and revenue, traditional sports leagues can learn from its unique culture and audience to engage younger fans and reach wider audiences. By incorporating elements of esports, traditional sports can stay relevant in an increasingly digital world and build a bridge to the next generation of sports fans.
