Why Esports Events Are Packing Arenas Like the NBA Finals

Esports has transcended being an online niche event to being an international entertainment corporation, and the live events themselves are now just as theatrical as traditional sports.

The International for Dota 2 and League of Legends World Championship, amongst others, get tens of thousands of fans coming to their shows with pyrotechnics, live concerts, and chorus chants akin to the energy at the NBA Finals or Premier League. The overlap is more than an aesthetic. It is extended to venue changes, financial impacts, and spectator involvement, shifting competition perceptions in either context. 

Betting Culture As A Common Thread

One of the standout features is the convergence of betting, where esports and traditional sports are bridged. With betting increasing in popularity, platforms like bet365 Ontario offer end-to-end betting for both, allowing users to wager on action from the Super Bowl to Dota 2 games. Research indicates that both areas have followers who place bets on game outcomes, with esports betting being a significant force along with traditional sports betting.

Regulatory frameworks, like those promoted by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, maintain that esports betting is held to standards of integrity similar to traditional sports. This similarity suggests that betting is an economic activity and a cultural bridge, enabling spectator participation.

Following Traditional Sports In Spectacle and Mood

The spectacle of watching live esports events has developed to rival traditional sports, with productions designed to captivate the spectator. The Seoul League of Legends World Championship in 2014, for example, attracted more than 40,000 spectators and featured performances by acts like Imagine Dragons, which provided a setting much like that of the Super Bowl. Pyrotechnics, opening ceremonies, and live castings by commentators are akin to NBA Finals pre-game shows, and team chants by fans like those for Fnatic or Cloud9 are like chants by basketball or football team fans.

Wikipedia’s esports page states that iconic esports moments, such as “Evo Moment 37” in Street Fighter, are compared to iconic sporting moments such as Babe Ruth’s called shot or Miracle on Ice. Such moments place esports on the level of a cultural phenomenon, developing a shared history among fans. Broadcast agreements, such as Blizzard and Disney’s multi-year Overwatch League agreement with ESPN and ABC, further establish esports on the same level as traditional sporting broadcasts, furthering advertiser interest and fanbase.

Reshaping Arenas for Esports Spectators

Venues have likewise adapted to house esports events so that they both appeal to competitive gaming and hold on to the grandeur of historic sports arenas. The Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland, is such an example with its hosting of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) series through quick internet, high-quality sound systems, and thousands of seats. Similarly, the Staples Center in Los Angeles has held League of Legends World Championships, adapting for esports through player and viewer configurations.

Specialized esports arenas, such as the Esports Arena in Santa Ana, California, which opened in 2015, are designed specifically with low-latency networks and optimal viewing spots, ensuring equality of play and social experience. LAN events, typical in high-profile competitions, minimize lag and prevent cheating, creating a close-to-real-life experience akin to live sports arenas. These changes drive attendance, with sold-out competitions mirroring the packed arenas of NBA or Premier League games, improving the live experience for spectators.

Economic Contribution & Strengthening Local Economies

The economic impact of esports competitions is like that of traditional sports, with high revenue and local economic stimulation. Global esports revenue was almost $1 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow, as noted by Newzoo in February 2020. Major tournaments, including The International 2021 for Dota 2 with a prize pool of $40 million, attract the top players and sponsors, just like sports leagues do, with similar financial models.

Esports tournaments also stimulate the local economy, just like the Super Bowl or World Cup. Sponsoring events in a city like Madrid for the League of Legends World Championship in 2019 stimulated tourism, filled hotels, and supplemented local businesses, with estimated revenues in the millions. Media rights packages, such as Activision Blizzard’s contract with ESPN, highlight the fiscal viability of esports, positioning it as a world industry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when live sports provided entertainment.

Fan Experiences and Perceptions Are Redefining Competition

Fan experiences at esports events are the same as in traditional sports, building loyal communities and redefining competition. Social media sites are full of arguments and discussions, creating an active online community similar to a watercooler conversation among sports fans. Live events offer meet-and-greets, autograph sessions, and fan zones, building loyalty like season ticket holders, as covered in educational resources like Learning Liftoff.

Live-game streaming sites like Twitch have made it more democratic to view and, more importantly, chat with involved players in the game in real time, blurring spectator and participant. Interactive aspects reinforce immersion, suggesting esport and ‘proper’ sport are merging into one broad entertainment category. Competition, defined from cheering through the stadium seats to fan internet communities, now shifts, welcoming all as mass entertainment with worldwide reach.

Live esports competitions are like conventional sports in spectacle, venue adaptation, economic impact, and spectator experience, with the culture of betting narrowing the gaps further. Trends show that esports is no flash in the pan but a significant cultural and financial phenomenon alongside conventional sports. The parallels emphasize the human need for competition and fellowship, promising both will increasingly shape the world of entertainment, creating new platforms for fan involvement and economic growth.