Esports, or Electronic Sports, is an online gaming phenomenon that has rapidly grown in recent years. Esports can be played by amateurs, professionals and teams, and are similar to sports in many ways. But there are several key differences between esports and traditional sports.
The main difference between esports and traditional sports is that esports can be played for money. Many esports leagues require a minimum salary for players to participate. In some cases, players can be traded from one team to another. This is not a common practice in traditional sports.
In addition, esports can be played against opponents from around the world. In fact, many esports tournaments are attended by hundreds of thousands of spectators. For example, the League of Legends Championship sold out a 15,000-seat Los Angeles Staples Center in an hour.
Athletes who compete in esports are often in the late teens or early 20s. Most esports organizations have several teams that specialize in video games. They are supported by sponsors. These sponsors help to generate income through sponsorships, content creation, streaming, and other forms of promotion.
Professional esports games are designed from the beginning to support professional competition. A number of esports games, such as Call of Duty and StarCraft II, were specifically developed to support competitive play. Despite the popularity of these games, many esports developers have not developed sufficient infrastructure in Africa to support the large number of people who want to watch esports.
Most esports leagues have been modeled after professional sports leagues. In most cases, each team has a major financial sponsor, and all teams compete for top standing. Those that do not do well are relegated. Several esports organizations have been established, and most of these leagues have transitioned to a franchise-based format. Unlike the majority of professional sports, esports can be played for money.
The first esports tournament was the Cyberathlete Professional League. Since then, esports has expanded into a multi-billion dollar industry. Today, the industry is projected to grow at a rate of 41% over the next few years. While it hasn’t completely taken hold in the United States, it’s gaining traction on college campuses and K-12 schools.
The biggest esports events are viewed by millions of spectators. Major esports tournaments include the North American Major League Gaming league, the World Cyber Games, and the League of Legends World Championships. The League of Legends Championship alone has drawn more than 27 million viewers online and sold out a 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul.
There are two main types of esports. Individual events, such as Hearthstone and Pokemon, and team based games, such as Fortnite and StarCraft II. Each game is broken down into competitive tournaments. Depending on the game, each game can last from five minutes to two hours. Typically, teams play a number of games across a season.
In most cases, esports are free to watch. However, there are a few instances in which people pay to watch a match. During these matches, the players are paid by the operators. Usually, these payments are made by distributors for the right to broadcast the event.
