About Esports
What is Esports?
Esports has entered the world of spectator sports, making statements with record-breaking viewership numbers, huge investment headlines, and economical growth promise. The vitality of Esports has viewers from around the world excited to watch rivalries and dynasties develop. The production and professionalism of Esports has grown into its own personality, while the prominence and global effect of Esports media superstars rival that of major American Sports. Just think, Fortnite changed the way we dance forever.
Starting in the late 80s and early 90s, Esports pioneers saw the allure of gaming competition. However, it wasn’t until the revolution of the internet, as an entertainment medium and match finder, that Esports was legitimized and validated to the degree that it is now. Reporters from sites such as Forbes have been tracking economic development of Esports as an industry, predicting huge growth in the matter of a few years. Newzoo’s estimate of Total Revenues in Esports in 2021 shows and predicts growth of 335% over the course of 5 years (2016-2021).
Esports Revenue Growth
Collegiate Esports
In 2019, we’re seeing the professionalism and structure of Esports trend downwards from the professional level into the young-but-thriving Collegiate space. Particularly from Riot Games, a gaming company that recently launched projects to support it’s collegiate programs, we can see an internal investment in the business of competition extending rapidly towards high school-aged gamers.
The Gaming Scholarship is a tool being used by collegiate Esports organizations and wise university officials to not only bolster talent and professionalism, but to find Esports athletes who are serious about gaming. John Koetzier reported for Forbes that in 2018 the number of sponsoring schools included in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) grew from 6 to 24 between the years 2016-2017 and by 2019 have reached over 90 members.
Programs
There are 3 major programs for Esports at the collegiate level: NACE, Tespa, and American Collegiate Esports League (ACEL). NACE is the only official governing body for Collegiate Esports. They offer partial and full-ride scholarships for Varsity Esports athletes. Tespa is a league for collegiate Esports clubs to compete to for scholarship money. ACEL is for club-level Collegiate Esports.
NACE Schools
Tespa Schools
ACEL Schools
The Arms Race
The arms race of Esports is a phenomenon that exists on multiple levels. Below the professional level, collegiate organizations are emerging and making the case all around America that spending resources on Esports is valuable. This is creating unique and exciting opportunities for serious gamers considering attending a university.
“Certainly within five years I hope to see varsity Esports be a common sight on college campuses across North America. Within ten years I hope that Esports is an expectation at all schools with intercollegiate programs on campus.”
We hope to turn aspiring gamers into serious competitors. With a focus on values and a common goal of winning, players are encouraged to commit to improvement in all areas of life. We hope that the principles we teach will attract sponsoring universities to our players.