Esports: The Next Big Opportunity for Cities?

In recent years, teenagers and young adults have started to fill arenas in many cities around the world, not to see their favourite athletes perform or attend a show of their favourite band, but to watch experts playing video games.

Referred to as “esports”, this recent phenomenon generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue every year, is watched by millions of fans from all around the world and reinvents the use of digital technologies in major events.

This week, Smart Cities & Sports takes a deeper look into this new trend that revolutionises the way events are conceptualised and organised. With contributions from Chester King, CEO of the British Esports Association, and Professor Andy Miah, sport and new technologies expert at the University of Salford, we look at what esports are, what they entail, how their events are being organised and what type of opportunities they can bring to a city, with interesting findings.

Indeed, there appears to be many benefits for cities seeking to be involved in esports. In addition to creating awareness for your city by reaching out to the millions watching the event online, esports can also enable you to connect with younger generations by providing them with a sense of community. Despite having the reputation of going against the promotion of active lifestyles, esports can also contribute to bringing these younger groups of your population out of their homes and adopt a more healthy lifestyle. To find out more about the phenomenon and the many benefits your city can get, we invite you to read our article by clicking here. 

We would like to find out more about innovative initiatives undertaken by your city to get your population moving! Feel free to share your views on our LinkedIn page! We look forward to hearing from you!

Mélanie Duparc

Secretary General

World Union of Olympic Cities