When we talk about sports, there hasn’t been much change for a long time. Yes, we now get to witness sporting events live on our TV, but this isn’t necessarily a change but more of an upgrade.
However, in the past couple of years, we have seen a major change in the world of sports and entertainment with the introduction of eSports. If we go back 15 years, can you imagine saying that playing games can be considered a sport and that the popularity of such tournaments will get more fans than sports with long history? It is truly impressive!
But, the world of eSports and traditional sports are designed to co-exist, not to dismantle each other. After all, we have eSports tournaments based on real sports like soccer, basketball, American football, and much more, as you can see if you click here.
What would eSports mean if there were no real sports? After all, eSports got some aspects from traditional sports, like betting, for example.
That’s why eSports and traditional sports are creating a fusion, with the same goal of attracting new fans and making events more entertaining.
In today’s article, we will explore the ways that eSports and traditional sports are fusing, bringing fans together like never before.
The Impact of the Esports Industry on Traditional Sports
Digitalization
If we go back a few decades, the most common way to watch sports was on TV, which was good but had its drawbacks. First of all, TV is much more expensive than social media; on top of that, you are limited to one location and don’t have much customization.
The rise of eSports introduced digitalization to the world of traditional sports.
Some of the most exciting tournaments like Dota2, League of Legends, or CS: GO were streamed online, where millions of people got to watch these special events for free.
This inspired the sporting industry to take a much deeper look into streaming.
Leveraging The Power of Social Media
For years, the sporting industry underestimated the power of social media. Most organizations see social media as a tool to grow their followers, which is not the case.
Social media is best for fan engagement and being involved in the sport. As fans, we all love to interact with our favorite teams and athletes, watch what they share, shoot them some questions, and much more.
This engagement was inspired by the world of eSports. The world of eSports introduced a new social media concept that brought more fans to their industry.
It is the concept of building communities on social media, discussing topics, and making fans feel engaged. In the past couple of years, we have seen big traditional sporting organizations following the same path, which is a good thing.
Reward-Viewership System
Elevated viewership has become a common goal in the world of Esports, and organizers have ingeniously harnessed monetization opportunities through in-game rewards. While most Esports competitions are readily accessible for free on platforms like Twitch, organizers have introduced creative methods to generate revenue through online in-game passes.
Popular games like League of Legends frequently offer themed passes that align with ongoing competitions. These passes not only deepen the engagement of players but also reward them for their in-game dedication and achievements, providing free skins and exclusive in-game content.
Furthermore, companies like Riot and Valve have initiated initiatives to recognize and reward dedicated viewers of real-time competitions.
For instance, when a spectacular moment unfolds, such as a pentakill in League of Legends on a grand stage, all active viewers on platforms like YouTube and Twitch who witnessed the moment are bestowed with complimentary in-game rewards for their accounts.
Impact Of Video Games on Sports
A major way Esports is leaving its mark on traditional sports is through the surging popularity of sports video games. These virtual sports games faithfully replicate real-world sports like football, basketball, and soccer, and they’ve witnessed an astonishing rise in popularity in recent years.
Games of this kind foster a strong sense of real-time player interaction, as millions of players engage in online competitions, adding a whole new dimension to the sports gaming experience.
Traditional Sports Icons Embrace eSports
Since eSports has grown to be a massive organization with millions of fans, some of the athletes from traditional sports have never been scared to show their willingness to accept this change.
Athletes, teams, and organizations are now participating in the eSports league, and most of the NBA teams have their own 2K eSports teams. Yes, even the official National Basketball Association launched its own eSports league.
On top of that, we have investments from some iconic sporting legends like Michael Jordan, David Beckham, and Shaquille O’Neal, who invested in eSports organizations.
Final Words
eSports and traditional sports are meant to coexist, filling each other’s gap and bringing fans together. The idea is to provide better entertainment and attract more fans.
Since both industries are working towards the same goal, as more traditional sporting organizations partner with modern eSports organizations, it will be beneficial for both parties and the fans.
