Examining Lisbon: Are Destinations and Venues Truly Ready for Esports?

The rapid growth of esports has significantly changed the competitive gaming landscape and its surrounding ecosystem. In just a few years, esports tournaments have evolved from small-scale events in auditoriums to large-scale productions in stadiums, driven by the desire for the esports community to come together. This evolution raises an important question: are multi-purpose venues designed for esports the next crucial development for the industry? And what does it truly mean for a venue to be “esports-ready”?

The esports industry has seen a shift in how tournaments are organized. Today’s competitions require advanced production and infrastructure, which many traditional sports venues are not equipped to handle. Although sports stadiums and arenas have been used for esports events, these spaces often need significant modifications to accommodate the specific needs of esports, including elaborate set-ups and opening ceremonies.

Venues designed specifically for esports aim to provide an optimal environment for both players and fans. These facilities can include features that facilitate the production process for broadcasters and content creators, enhancing the viewing experience for audiences at home.

Some esports organizations are proactively addressing this need by creating their own dedicated venues. For instance, Karmine Corp recently opened a new multi-purpose venue in Paris, which will not only host esports tournaments but also serve as a center for content creation, merchandise sales, and community events. This trend, already established in countries like China and Korea, reflects the growing importance of having a dedicated space for esports communities to gather and engage.

While having a physical hub for fans to celebrate their favorite teams and participate in related activities can strengthen community bonds, it also presents significant challenges and costs.

Instead of investing in large, standalone arenas for individual esports teams— which could become significant financial burdens—organizations might find it more practical to opt for smaller, team-specific facilities or shared, multi-purpose venues. Regardless of the choice, sustainability is likely to be a key consideration for those developing new esports venues.

For venues accommodating esports events, there are several important factors to consider. In addition to essential features like broadcast spaces, player lounges, media rooms, interview booths, and ample backstage areas, a reliable, high-speed internet connection is crucial. This connectivity ensures smooth event operations and allows fans to watch the action live.

Additionally, accessibility is important. The venue should be well-connected to transportation options to make it easy and affordable for fans to attend. Given that many people can watch esports events from home for free, complicated or costly travel could deter potential attendees.

To be truly esports-ready, venues must also ensure that their catering, professional services, ticketing, parking, contracts, and staff are all tailored to meet the unique needs of esports events.

Starting with a clear understanding and strategy from the destination is crucial for developing successful esports venues. For example, Visit Raleigh in North America and London & Partners in Europe have demonstrated what can be accomplished when a destination takes esports seriously and invests in a dedicated strategy and team.

“Purpose-built, esports-only venues have been discussed for a long time,” said Ed Tomasi, Co-Chair of the Greater Raleigh Esports Committee. “However, they face sustainability challenges and have not proven viable. In North America, cities and private investors are currently not interested in building venues solely for esports, and recent attempts have failed to progress beyond the planning stage.”

Tomasi added, “Instead, multi-purpose venues that can host sports, esports, entertainment, and conferences are actively being considered, planned, and built.”

Join Visit Raleigh, Karmine Corp, and other key stakeholders at ESI Lisbon on September 24th for the panel discussion, ‘Purpose Built: Are Destinations and Venues Esports Ready?’ to explore the viability of esports venues and gain insights into future trends in this expanding field.