ESports, an unexpected shining light in a dark tunnel
- Mar 18, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 30, 2020
Chilling scenes in sports stadiums around the world as all major sporting events are canceled due to coronavirus and whichever games do go ahead, play to an empty crowd.
As coronavirus sweeps the globe, everyone is asked to stay at home and practice social distancing. Large social gatherings and all sporting events are canceled, leaving people wondering what will they do to keep their sanity in these times of isolation.
Live sports is the focal point of so many viewers television entertainment and with sporting events from NBA to the Premier League canceled there is a void in people's lives that needs filling. Viewer's boredom and need for entertainment is amplified in peculiar times like these where people have so much spare time at home. Could esports be the solution?
“It’s certainly an opportunity for the space to demonstrate that esports can scratch the itch on competition,” said Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan is an American esports and entertainment organization with a net worth of over $6 million.
Johan Sundstein is the 26-year-old who is currently topping the ranks of sports, accumulating a net worth of almost $7 million. He spoke with BBC.
"We've had this eternal conflict of sports versus e-sports and we've been accused of copying from the sports scene, and now we see the sports world taking a note out of the e-sports world, which I find kind of funny."
For many esports regulars like Sundstein seeing sports fans relying on esports for entertainment is entertainment in its self.
ESports is not a picayune industry, it has seen exponential growth in the last decade, selling out some of the world's biggest arenas like Madison Square Garden and Staples Center. However, unlike sports, esports' financial driver is not its live events. Esports' main revenue stream is derived from it's online coverage. For the League of Legends World Championship in China, 40,000 people attended the event live and 100 million watched it online. This is comparable to The SuperBowl reaching just below 100 million viewers on Fox.
In disturbing times like these, we are seeing the biggest names in sport making the switch to the virtual world in an attempt to keep people entertained. After the Australian Grand Prix being canceled, many viewers, including the drivers themselves were left disappointed. VeloceEsports approached Lando Norris and a number of others attempting to keep the spirit of competition alive in a virtual world. Lando Norris was excited to be involved and agreed to take on Formula E driver Stoffel Vandoorne and various Youtube stars in a virtual Australian Grand Prix.
VeloceEsports reported it was not difficult to find people to take part. It was not only drivers who were excited about the showcase. BBC Radio 5 live commentators Jack Nicholls and Jolyon Palmer lent their voices for another virtual race that had Max Verstappen and ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya competing.
"Esports is a very fast growing and exciting industry and what we wanted to do this weekend is put on a fun race for fans that are without racing in Formula 1" said Jamie MacLaurin, founder of VeloceEsports.
Formula 1 is not the only sport that is dipping their toes in the virtual world at this tough time. Geraint Thomas, winner of the 2018 Tour de France and Simon Yates, winner of Vuelta a Espana, are planning daily events. Meanwhile, a Spanish darby match between Sevilla and Real Betis was settled virtually over a game of FIFA. Seville was represented by their left-back Sergio Reguilon and Real Betis was represented by their striker Borja Iglesias. A heavyweight resting for one players' PlayStation skills. All in a good spirit of course.
It is amazing seeing esports finally getting the recognition it deserves and it will be interesting to see how the industry will grow from this opportunity. Will the world of sports change forever?
Patrick Byrne is a chief journalist and editor at 'Ready, Steady, Sports'. If you like his work follow him @PatrickByrne
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