After Weathering 2020, v Looks to the Future
eSports is growing in leaps and bounds no matter how you measure. Not even the coronavirus has been able to significantly slow down the flocks of viewers and sponsors arriving in the esports industry. eSports are not resting on their laurels, however.
They are looking firmly into the future and taking steps to build on this growth. Nothing is a given. They know they have to attract new gamers and savvy sponsors if they hope to maintain anything like the explosive growth they have seen these years.
Explosive Growth Across the Sector
More and more diverse actors are becoming part of the eSports boom. And whoever you are, you can also get in on the phone. One way to take part in the excitement is to place bets on your favorite teams. Anywhere you can do online sports betting, you can also find eSports bets. Each year billions of dollars, and growing fast, are wagered on this sector.
But this has not been the only place we have seen such growth. Being a viewer is another easy way to participate in eSports. Simply subscribing to Switch or finding your favorite games on YouTube is the only step to joining the millions of eSports viewers.
Two ways to go about this are either by following your favorite sports, or by following your favorite athletes. One crowd favorite is Ninja who plays Fortnite.
In 2018 there were roughly 400 million viewers. Just two years later in 2020, roughly 500 million people watched eSports, with about half being enthusiastic viewers. That represents a 20% increase in just two years. So what should we be expecting from the next couple of years in the eSports industry?
Drawing in New Players
eSPorts continue to draw in new players. These people will be the core of the industry moving forward. Big personalities will be key to expanding fanbases and therefore royalties via advertisements, sponsorships, and prize pools.
Take for example Joseph Deen. He recently made headlines for being signed with a $33,000 signing bonus for the Fortnite Team 33. What makes this star really special is his age. He has signed onto the pro team at just 8 years of age. While he will be barred from representing the team in many ways for a few years, Team 33 has already begun investing in his future.
Another prong of the recruitment strategy is to start clubs at universities. St Johns University has one of the biggest and most respected clubs. They are part of the Eastern Conference. Expect to see some of tomorrow’s stars among their ranks.
In fact, they won the Big East title, defeating second seed, Seton Hall. The university currently has athletes playing five titles: Super Smash Brothers, League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, and FIFA. They communicate with each other via Discord, an app specifically designed for the use of video gaming communities.
If you are looking to get a group of gamers together, consider downloading the app to keep each other motivated and well-coordinated.
Emerging Sponsorships
The savviest companies have lready begun to invest in eSpoerts sponsorship and brand ambassadors. Expect this trend to go on, as the industry works hard to continue to court the biggest names across a number of industries.
These collaborations can take many forms. It started with basic advertisements for viewers tuned into the games. It has since moved onto companies sponsoring teams. In these arrangements, companies like Nike provide all the kits the teams will use across their competitions.
A new level of sponsorship has emerged in recent years. It is a more luxurious and creative iteration. Gucci has designed a watch with Fnatic, a top eSports organization. Louis Vutton was quick to follow suit with League of Legends.
Additionally individual stars have taken on sponsorships. IN this form, they provide adverts via their social media in exchange for funding or gear for their games.
We expect this to grow and lots! Given the growth of the industry and the creative way both companies and athletes are seeking these relationships, more dollars and companies will be pouring in.