Esports Developments

Two major professional sports teams just announced significant developments in the esports industry. GameStop will be partnering with Complexity Gaming to open the GameStop Performance Center in Frisco, Texas. Meanwhile, Comcast Spectacor plans to construct a $50 million video gaming arena in South Philadelphia. These are two significant announcements that have implications in professional sports as well, demonstrating the impact electronic sports has outside of the online gaming world.

Complexity Gaming is owned in part by Jerry Jones, who is also the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The performance center will even share a location with the NFL team. This 11,000 square foot venue includes a public gaming area, designed to help amateurs hone their esports skills while allowing seasoned gamers the opportunity to network with one another, according to Engadget. In addition to serving as a place where sponsors and fans can gather to play and connect, it will also serve as Complexity Gaming’s new headquarters. GameStop also plans to teach players how to improve their performance on popular games, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty, in what will be known as gaming clinics. Additionally, tournaments will be held inside the venue to encourage fans to participate in events throughout the course of the year.

In Philadelphia, Comcast Spectacor, who owns NHL team the Philadelphia Flyers, announced its plan to construct the first purpose-built esports stadium in the United States, according to Business Wire. The stadium will be a hub for electronic sports on the East Coast as well as the new home for Comcast Spectacor’s newest epsorts team, Philadelphia Fusion. This will be the first electronic sports team in the Overwatch League to announce the construction of a home arena, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Esports Developments Across the Globe

In Asia, there are numerous venues dedicated to electronic sports. The sporting genre is even set to become a medal sport in 2022. Meanwhile, in the United States, 200 colleges will be offering scholarships for players to attend their university and participate in their college leagues, according to Wired. According to The Washington Post, global revenues for the esports industry reached nearly $906 million in 2018! A staggering 38.2% growth from the year prior. Additionally, ABC broadcasted Overwatch League’s Stage 1 final on a Saturday afternoon, which was a huge step for the industry! ABC is one of the United States’ largest networks, allowing esports leagues to broaden their audiences as they increase awareness for the newest and trendiest sport.

This spike in esports investments make sense, given how professional sports have begun buying into the idea of esports as well. A timely decision when you consider the enormous, untapped potential for massive sponsorships, and opportunity to develop fan culture much like we see for traditional professional sports today. Even if esports isn’t the future of professional sports leagues, though, they are on the path to become an official member of pro sports! Soon, more and more professional teams will surely begin to develop partnerships or sponsorships for their own esports “home teams”.

Legal Counsel for Esport Professionals

If you’re an esports professional or involved in the world of esports and need legal counsel from those who understand the ins and outs of the industry, get in contact with RM Warner Law. There, you will find seasoned professionals in the field of electronic sports, live-streaming and internet law who know exactly how to help. For more information on esports law, check out our other articles, and follow us on social media @rmwarnerlaw.