A glimpse of the best-of-the-best when it comes to competitive esports games and venues
Starting in the early days of Tetris and Pac-Man to Fortnite and League of Legends, video games have had an impact on millions of people since they were conceived. Personal enjoyment and entertaining others are just a few of the reasons video games have been immensely popular. As video games evolved, so did the business and economics around it. Once marketable only as a form of home entertainment, esports games and venues have emerged from a booming video gaming industry, bringing in over a billion in profits, as well as millions of viewers online and in person.
Competitive, multiplayer video games drive the esports industry. Similar to physical sports like soccer and basketball, people crave competition, and the plethora of esports options offer just that with Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and many others at the forefront of these competitions and their popularity has only risen. Video games are more popular than ever, and professional, competitive gaming is only getting bigger.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Beginning merely as a PC first-person shooter game (FPS) over 10 years ago, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) has done something that only a handful of other video games have managed to do: stand the test of time and remain immensely popular. As esports grew and started to bring in revenue for facilities and players, CSGO became even more popular amongst competitive and leisurely gamers alike. According to ESports Charts, CSGO is third in viewership, and that viewership leads to more money flowing in. Along with that, CSGO has garnered the second largest prize pool, coming out to roughly $11.7 million.
League of Legends
Quite possibly esports most popular title League of Legends is a force to be reckoned with. Similar to CSGO, League of Legends has been around for a long time and is not going anywhere. Released in 2009, it has grown to be one of the faces of esports, amassing 5.1 million viewers during the 2022 World Finals. According to CVent, some of the largest esports live events have welcomed over 100,00 people. When it comes to hosting esports tournaments involving games such as this one, expect crowds of tens of thousands to attend. Large, centralized facilities are ideal for hosting tournaments for League of Legends.
Fortnite
What some may call the ‘new kid on the block’, Fortnite’s rise to immense fame happened quite fast. What made Fortnite so marketable and revenue-friendly was that every gamer was playing it, regardless of age or skill level. Almost every gamer had at least tried Fortnite once because it was the talk of the town. At its most popular stage in 2018 and 2019, Fortnite had a whopping $69 million-dollar prize pool. To add to the popularity of Fortnite in esports, big names in gaming such as Ninja, TimTheTatMan and multiple FaZe members were competitively playing, which really grabs the attention of younger viewers. A game that has brought in billions of dollars worth of revenue over the last six years, Fortnite is part of the new wave of attracting younger and newer viewers.
Defense of the Ancients 2
Standing high and alone as the biggest revenue generator of esports stands Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA 2). Released in 2013 as an online battle arena game, DOTA 2 has captured all of the big name esports teams and made them battle it out for millions of dollars. Ranked as the most lucrative esports game out now according to Esports Earnings, DOTA 2 had a lucrative $40 million prize pool in 2021, where the championship team alone walked away with $18 million. DOTA 2 offers competitive and strategic gameplay that is unique to itself. With over 120 unique characters, and what feels like endless items and builds, every game will offer a new challenge as creativity is boundless and users find new ways to play each time. Wherever a DOTA 2 tournament is hosted, people show up in great style. With records held in multiple categories for revenue based statistics, DOTA 2 is the king of esports.
Esports Stadium Arlington
If you are looking for the biggest and best facility to host a state-of-the-art esports tournament, Esports Stadium Arlington is the best of the best in North America. Boasting a 100,000-square-foot building with a layout that fits all gamers needs, it does not get much better than this. Known as the “pioneering venue of large scale esports production, events, and community building”, Esports Stadium Arlington changed what it means to host an esports event for everyone to come together. An 85-foot LED wall, immense sound system, shopping centers and amazing food are a few of the incredible amenities Arlington offers. The stadium allowed designers to create a brand for themselves, and really turn something simple into something unmatched. For event planners looking to impress their clients, choose what has become the standard for esports.
HyperX Arena
Boasting a 50-foot LED screen for viewers, a massive 30,000-square-foot layout as well as VIP rooms and a bar, HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is an iconic entertainment center in a city full of entertainment. Located within the colossal Luxor Hotel and Casino, this is an entire arena within an already enormous building. Hosting events such as $10,000 Valorant tournaments, Fortnite Duos tournaments, and even being able to rent out the space to the public, HyperX is ideal for gamers to get in and see what esports is all about.
From the top-ranked and most money-driven games in esports to the best and biggest arenas in the industry, esports games and venues are on the rise and not planning on stopping that ascent anytime soon. Brand deals, sponsorships and hosting events are going to be bigger than ever dreamed of before. Gamers be ready, as your passion is becoming more valuable and appreciated than ever before.
By Colby Schikora
Main photo: A crowd amasses for esports competition outside the University of California Irvine, ranked as one of the top esports schools in North America.
