When you are learning from some of the best sports marketing colleges, you expect the proper knowledge and updates on the latest in the field. Unfortunately, many colleges and universities have ignored the rise of eSports in recent years.
They believe it to be a fad that will go away soon. However, that is not the case here. eSports has made its place globally, and every sports management student must learn about it while graduating with Sports Technology in India.
So, What is eSports?
The term eSports refers to the field of competitive, organised video gaming. Competitors from several leagues or teams compete in the same games that are popular among at-home gamers: To name a few, Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Madden NFL.
When it comes to sports, eSports is considered out of the ordinary rather than the traditional concept of the sport since they include just people playing video games. Sports need a sense of physicality, promote mental well-being, and have a social component. All of these topics may be considered in the context of eSports.
eSports games are bound within a virtual realm and may not be considered physical exercises. However, eSports have the potential to promote both mental and physical well-being. Mental well-being is frequently necessary to be at your best and maintain attention, sometimes for several hours in a row, to be a competent player.
Because mental well-being is typically accompanied by physical well-being, eSports gamers might benefit from going to the gym to maintain stamina while playing for hours on end. Physical and mental preparation is just as necessary as in any other sport if you want to be at the top of your game.
Even if you dismiss the notion that eSports players deserve physical and mental well-being, you cannot dispute the amount of training required to compete at the highest level in a video game. Rocket League, Overwatch, and Dota 2 take thousands of hours to perfect. You must know how each character works, the mechanics of a game by heart, and more, much more. You can't just get into a video game and expect to be at the same level as the most outstanding players.
As a result, it's difficult not to admire these athletes' passion and ability. The same is true for every sport. To play at a competitive level, you must put in many hours over many years. You may jump in and play casually, just like any other sport, but you will not be a master.
Finally, we may discuss the social aspect of eSports. Millions of people may tune in to watch an eSports event, and they will experience the intensity of the game. Consider how intense a person feels when participating in a high-stakes game. Imagine it on a large stage, with thousands of onlookers and a monetary award. Crowds will cheer for the favourites while also watching in astonishment and interest.
The worldwide eSports industry was valued at a little less than one billion US dollars in 2020 and is predicted to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent through 2025. Furthermore, the worldwide market revenue of the eSports sector is expected to reach 1.62 billion US dollars in 2024.
Asia and North America now have the largest eSports marketplaces in terms of income, with China alone accounting for about one-fifth of the business. In 2021, sponsorships and advertising accounted for the lion's share of eSports industry income with 641 million US dollars.
The second most significant source of revenue, by comparison, was media rights, which brought in slightly more than 192 million USD. Again, these figures reflect the growth of the industry. Moreover, a sports industry with this much growth has the potential to provide plentiful job opportunities.
The following are the problems that are important to understand:
1.Can you immediately adapt your understanding of sport management to eSports?
2.Is eSports a distinct field?
3.Or does it have parallels with non-digital sports management?
Indeed, the solution is not straightforward, but everything shows that the collection of expertise in sports administration over the years provides a solid foundation for eSports.
However, many organisations have particular traits that draw attention and, without a doubt, represent managerial difficulties that must be handled.
For example:
They are multinational and multicultural organisations where most employees solely communicate digitally and practically never in person. Managing employees in this context necessitate a shift in viewpoint.
Because of the preceding, commercial, labour, monetary, and fiscal linkages are incredibly complicated.
Sponsorship, the proper motor of the industry, blends a face-to-face nature (at events) with totally digital features, with the latter being expanded.
The connection between clubs, players, sponsors, and fans is immediate and real-time. Communication, reproduction, and business channels are entirely different from old ones. Digital natives are in charge, while digital migrants must adapt to the new reality.
As a management student, you must understand the potential of eSports and how you can start a career in it. Imbibing this information early in a manager's education is one of the most acceptable methods to prepare them for this new wave. It is simpler to convey this information because kids are still learning and are not fixed in their ways.
The MBA in Sports Management programme will be highly beneficial to students. It teaches them all they need to know about their new sporting careers. The trick here is to select an excellent college, such as SSSS.
Sports management course from good universities like SSSS can help you learn more about managing such emerging fields through practical skills and extensive knowledge. Therefore, I suggest you explore the field and pursue education from a reputable university that teaches you about the modern trends in sports and traditional education.
