Why Are Universities Investing in Esports?

As the esports industry continues to develop, universities across the world are keen to offer both degrees in esports and field their own teams.

Esports Open New Opportunities for Both Students and Universities

Without a doubt, esports have grown massively over the last few decades. While various tournaments have existed for decades at this point almost each year has seen more and more players get into professional play and more viewers tuning in to watch. Subsequently, the prizes for the various events have also gone up.

However, esports seems to have evolved into a staple of the entertainment and sports industry as a whole. Events on games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and many others, gather millions of viewers. This has not gone unnoticed by large companies who have stepped in to sponsor tournaments and teams.

With this being the case, perhaps it should not be a surprise that even higher educational institutions have stepped into the industry. Various universities around the globe have started fielding their own teams or even offering degrees related to esports.

This is the case because aside from the esports players themselves, there is a ton of staff around them that make things happen. These can range from managers and coaches to event organizers and broadcasters. All of these positions need professionals so there’s a real niche that universities can offer courses on to both cover the demand for these professions and also contribute to the development of the esports industry.

We should also talk about the many official esports teams that educational institutions are fielding. As with traditional sports, winning an esports tournament can bring a lot of glory and recognition to a team and its hosts. Universities know how much exposure winning a sporting event can bring. Therefore, it should be no wonder that they are investing more in esports, as it is particularly popular among young people, who could also become potential clients.

What Degrees and Facilities are Universities Offering?

Over the past years, the industry has grown significantly, driving the need for more professionals and specialists. Even famous politicians like French President Macron have stated the growth of esports. But with the field developing this rapidly and still being rather new, one has to wonder what degrees and facilities do institutions actually offer.

This is a tricky question to answer as there doesn’t seem to be a standard yet, considering how new the industry is. However, some trends are emerging and we can take a look at those.

For example, you may see a litany of support coaches, nutrition experts, marketing teams, finance teams, and more, which you may find in traditional sports as well. After all, an esports player needs to be fit and healthy, sticking to health plans and intensive training schedules, just like any other sport. Of course, instead of training on the field, esports pro do so on computers.

Interestingly, however, few universities offer degrees in actually being a pro player. The same goes for coaches as well, considering most, if not all, coaches in the industry have once been active players.

Of course, universities still field esports teams with players picked out from their students. These students need facilities to train in and while you may think a room with some PCs is enough, institutions often pour vast sums of money into creating proper campuses. These can feature everything from high-end gaming PCs to meeting rooms, to health centers, to lounges where players can relax and unwind after intense training sessions.

Some universities even have their own venues for hosting tournaments. These can often be used for various other events, making them a great investment not only for the development of esports but for the university as a whole.

Conclusion

With the rapid growth that the esports industry has seen over the years, there comes a need for a multitude of professionals and support staff that help make tournaments possible. Universities are keen to invest in the industry, which is projected to offer thousands more job opportunities as it continues to grow.

Adding to that is the glory and exposure coming to the institution if its team wins a prestigious event. Many universities see this as a great way to attract new students, which is yet another reason they are keen on investing in esports and fielding professional teams.