Some estimates expect the global eSports market to be worth $1.9 billion by 2026, which would come from a compound annual growth rate of around 15 percent. That means that the industry is spiking at an excessive rate, and businesses that capitalise on it now will stand to gain massively. One way for businesses to jump on this booming trend would be to host eSports events. In order to do so, some knowledge of venue requirements is needed.
Common Requirements For Venues
Anyone thinking of using an existing location to host an eSports competition will need to take a few things into consideration. There are common requirements that are essential for running a successful event.
First of all, there needs to be enough room to fit spectators in. It is worth considering that the number of people who watch eSports is rising each year, so organisers should check the demand for competitive gaming in their area. In places where eSports interest is high, stadiums used for other, mainstream sports events would be ideal. But, if the audience size is expected to be small, a cinema or a sports hall could be repurposed for gaming and should work very well.
It has also been noted that a centralised location is imperative for eSports venues, as many spectators could be travelling from far and wide to watch. With this in mind, a location near a train station would be beneficial. The correct licencing needs to be in place, so organisers should contact the relevant gaming companies to ensure they have permission to show the games. On top of all that, there needs to flawless power and internet support.
Betting Machines Could Improve Venues
Aside from the basic requirements that are considered essential for hosting a successful eSports event, there are a few things that could be added to make the user experience even more enjoyable. It’s important to elevate your event to set it apart from competitors’ offerings and adding another method of engagement could be just the thing. So, something that could go down well at these venues would be retail sports betting machines, as these allow users to stake on the events that are occurring.
Betting on eSports is becoming a big business and, rather than betting online through mobile apps, installing machines in the venue would be highly convenient, as well as being an effective way of increasing engagement. In addition to Pronet Solutions having worked directly with video game companies in the past, not many eSports events offer betting machines at their venues. So, this option will likely be a new experience for your attendees.
Features of The Best in The World
Of course, it is wise to look at some of the best eSports venues in the world for tips on how to run a great competition. The Copper Box Arena in London and Climate Pedge Arena in Seattle are excellent options to replicate. The former was originally used for the 2012 Olympics and has 7000 seats, making it the perfect size for eSports. The latter has regularly been used for different types of events, so it was easy to transform it into a site for competitive gaming.
Hosting an eSports tournament could be a highly lucrative venture. But it is important to get everything right. Looking at successful competitions and the locations used will provide winning ideas for event organisers.