Sport Hiatus: Focus on Esports
How are sports and media properties leveraging Esports to engage fans during this moment (Sport Hiatus)?
Let’s focus on how Esports can contribute to keeping hungry fans connected to your sport.
F1 just had its first virtual Gran Prix, so lots to talk about.
Why Esports?
By definition, Esports are based on games that can be played staying at home, even if Esports events are often played in big arenas the virtual component is key. Also as the problem moves around the world there may be locations in which things are back to normal and Esports may capitalize on that. One thing though, there is a professional level that separates eSpots from just eGaming, often the version of the game for Esports tournaments is a special one and different from us normal people would use at home.
Which Sports?
First, let’s be realistic, Sports Esports are a small portion of the huge pie, mostly motorsports and FIFA, the rest is non-sport like Fortnite, Overwatch etc…
Will this work for any sport? Ehm… no. You do need a game and an Esports case for making it happen and to go big you need a game that is pretty popular and also played by Pro players.
- Motorsports — F1, MotoGp, GT
- Football — EA FIFA 2020 and PES
- NFL — Madden
- NBA- NBA 2K
- NHL — NHL 20
- MLB — The Show, RBI
Will the audience follow?
The main question is: “ Will the traditional sports fans be interested, beyond the initial curiosity, to the virtual version of the sport?”
What needs to be done to make it palatable and interesting for a wider audience. Is that realistic?
Case Studies
F1
F1 first virtual GP has happened on Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Bahrain… kind of, at least that was the circuit. Some Pro Esports players and F1 players and other sports celebrities were racing. It was streamed on Twitch and YouTube.
Nascar
Nascar did also a virtual race on Sunday and had drivers participating.
Eleven Networks
Luis Vicente and the Eleven Networks team pull together a very rapid sport-substitute.
FIFA 2020
Various entities in Sports an media have started top organize Esports tournaments based on FIFA 2020.
NBA 2K
NBA is one of the most advanced league in terms of innovation, so they are full speed in many aspects of the Sport Hiatus.
I recently talked to Ralh Rivera (NBA MD for EU) and their focus is on 3 elements: community Support, fan engagement, resuming the sport when possible. Esports and NBA 2K a well-oiled mechanism and central to how to keep fans engaged during the Sport Hiatus.
From the Expert: Amir Hajar
Amir Hajar, co-founder of Mkers and Esports talent scout for professional clubs is a true expert in the world of Esports but more importantly, he is actively involved in the day by day.
We met at last year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup final at the O2 in London.
- What is happening in the world of Esports, is it accelerating massively because of people being home
- What about sports Esports? I know they are not top of the list, do you expect them to grow now as a replacement to live sport?
3. Which sports game can grow in this Sport Hiatus?
Read the full interview
From the Fans
My friends Alberto and Andrea have put together an Esports initiative virtually trying to get the last 12 teams in UCL with 12 real coaches (current players, former players, comedians, influencers, FM addicts, real managers, real fans, journalists) to the final in Istanbul based on Football Manager.
Throwback
I wrote this almost two years ago, lobbying for sports to take control of their respective Esports.
Anything I missed or feedback please write here below!
