The booming Esports sector is forecasted at continual revenue growth
By now, every geek and non-geek alike has heard of Esports, an industry that is taking the world by storm, growing in audience size and revenue with each passing year. As its popularity continues to rise, it can be interesting to consider how this non-traditional form of sport compares with real-life professional sports and their players. After all, there’s no doubt that the questions ‘Should Esports really be considered sport?’ or ‘Are Esports players real athletes?’ provoke heated conversations.
However, when taking a closer look at the industries side by side, you may be surprised to find that these two competitive environments share more similarities than meets the eye. In this article, we explore just a few of these overlapping qualities.
Players Must be Physically and Mentally Apt
Whether athletes engage in football, baseball, hockey, or any other sport, we can all agree on the fact that their performance is largely related to levels of physical and mental fitness at the time of play. Also, on each side, there’s the component of tactical skills that players use to gain an edge. The same is true for Esports participants who must use both their body and minds when engaged in high-profile tournaments and games. In fact, in both sports, a lack of preparation can mean the difference between a victorious outcome and one that falls short. Of course, the small difference lies in the way that each group of players practice.
For example, Esports gamers watch pro streamers, run through the titles they may be expected to compete in, research strategies for effective gameplay, and even hire experienced gaming coaches. On the other hand, traditional sports players practice without the presence of a computer, rather on a real-life field or court with a team of other athletes. However, both require their participants to be organized, equipped, and ready to compete.
A Major Culture Surrounding Fandom
Another similarity between traditional sports and esports is the dominant fan culture that inhabits both spaces. Crowds of screaming supporters donning player memorabilia is something that you could previously only see inside stadiums and arenas of ‘real-life’ sports events, but nowadays this same scene is visible in the world of Esports. The sector is becoming known for its explosive levels of fan engagement.
Additionally, online betting is available and extremely popular in both areas. In standard sports, virtual bookmakers dominate the scene and provide various promotional opportunities so that more fans can engage in wagering around the clock. This also occurs in Esports, with the act of betting online following a near-identical procedure for fans. The only thing is that, because traditional sports betting has been around for much longer than Esports wagering, their products are a bit more developed. However, as Esports fan culture continues to grow and progress, there will undoubtedly be a higher demand for more betting platforms in the virtual environment.
Esports fans watch professional players as they compete in an official tournament in downtown Detroit
Real Leagues and Games
Last but not least, ‘real’ sports and Esports both have their own set of leagues and teams that compete in seasons annually. For example, in the Canadian football league, there are a total of nine franchises split between two divisions, while bigger professional organizations like the NFL have over 30. Every team is given a specific name, often with a mascot and colour association. Esports is no different, with each group having a certain title and logo that they go by.
For example, the professional League of Legends team Team Liquid has a horse logo, while the Overwatch team London Spitfire represents the West region and play in matching bright blue jerseys with orange accents. These players compete with different game titles depending on their league. Some popular ones include Counterstrike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, and Dota 2, a game series that has recently been made into a Netflix series. Most competitions air on popular streaming sites like Twitch and Steam, but TV viewing is also now available in certain areas. Likewise, fans frequently use online or mobile live streaming services in order to watch standard sports games in real-time.
So, there you have it! Perhaps now it will be a bit harder to argue that Esports and traditional sports do not share some major similarities.
