The global pandemic wreaked havoc on countless industries, including sports. Competitions were either canceled or postponed, and many fans turned to online options, including eSports. Should that trend have athletes worried? That interesting question deserves a closer look.
It is an undeniable fact that 2020 was one of the most unforgettable years in recent memory. Due in large part to the global pandemic, countless industries were forced to irrevocably change their strategies and many businesses have suffered as a result. The same holds true when referring to live sporting events.
As the majority of competitions were cancelled or otherwise delayed indefinitely, a growing number of fans chose online entertainment as a medium-term replacement. Should this trend have traditional athletes worried? Will live events ever be the same? These interesting questions deserve a closer look if we are to draw any reasonable conclusions.
Why Are E-Sports Becoming so Popular?
There is no doubt that the online gaming community has benefitted from recent events. A recent study highlighted that the global value of this industry is expected to increase to an incredible $1.72 trillion dollars by the end of 2021. Many experts will argue that this is at least partially due to restrictions that were put into place in regards to social distancing measures.
However, it is just as important to understand the bigger picture. The simple fact is that e-sports have been gaining digital ground for well over a decade thanks to wireless communications and increased computing power. If anything, the recent COVID-19 pandemic only served to hasten this trend. E-sports have therefore catered to the needs of countless fans during extremely strict lockdowns.
Let the games begin!
Online Competitions Versus Live Events
Another important facet of the equation involves how the games themselves are now being accessed. As mydroll.com observes, many providers are now beginning to offer cloud-based gaming services. There are a number of interesting benefits associated with this approach including:
–Instantaneous access while out and about.
–Players are not often required to download hefty software bundles.
–As data is stored within the ether of the Internet, a greater level of redundancy can be enjoyed.
–Lower subscription prices.
However, even the most advanced gaming platforms cannot replicate the thrills and chills associated with live competitions. This has never truly been their intention. They have instead been designed to provide a virtual alternative for those who might not be able to afford the attendance fees often associated with popular competitions.
An Interesting Future
So, should professional athletes be concerned that their popularity could begin to wane thanks to the presence of e-sports? This is not an entirely logical observation, as we are speaking about two different industries. While it is a foregone conclusion that digital sports and online gaming in general will enjoy a growing market share, it is not likely that die-hard fans will suddenly migrate into the online community and abandon their favourite pastimes.
However, it is still true that professional athletes should look towards the online community as a means to communicate with their followers as well as to (possibly) secure lucrative franchising deals in the future. E-sports are here to stay and yet, traditional competitions will remain just as popular.
