One of the world’s biggest amateur eSports tournaments gets underway in Ireland next week with the first online qualifier for Red Bull Player One taking place.
There will be eight qualifiers in total taking place throughout July and August with the National Final taking place in Dublin on September 15th.
The winner will represent Ireland at the World Final in Sao Paolo, Brazil in December.
Red Bull has never shied away from sponsorship of participation events that stretch the imagination and that provide great content for the brand’s global media channels.
This League of legends tournament taps into the massive global popularity of the game and while some still associate the concept of eSports with what they see on the screen, the reality, pardon the turn of the phrase lies in the fact that this is a skill based competition with a winner and a loser.
That is a valid definition of sport and the rapid speed at which gaming has not only expanded but become a truly professional operation means that resistance to the idea of it being considered alongside more traditional sports is the preserve only of the arch traditionalist.
According to figures published last year by the World Economic Forum, the global audience for eSports is estimated at around 380 million with 165 million of those considered to be dedicated fans.
The revenues generated by players and fans will likely burst through €1 billion in 2019 with China and the US the two largest single markets.
Having Red Bull behind a major tournament, just as three were in 2018 as well as a marker of the opportunity that exists and the market among players that is already established.
Sport for Business will host a Members Round Table on eSports in late August, as well as one on Sponsorship Activation in early September. If you would like to join us for either of these, please email us quoting Members Round Table and we will be in touch.
