eSports & business

I was browsing Readmore.de today and found an interesting topic that led me to former Gotfrag Editor-in-Chief jESUIT’s blog, the topic was jESUIT’s ideal league and explains his views on the perfect league, why the CGS failed and why MLG and ESL are thriving. The subject interested me because I was involved in a similar discussion earlier this week.

That time it was on Cadred.org (a website whose regular visitors I despise but that’s got some decent writers) and the topic was why teams don’t go to LANs, written by Richard “Dr. Gonzo” Lewis. Anyway I ended up trying to explain what’s important to teams when chosing what events to attend, my main point and argument was that organisations and most people involved in esports grossly overestimate the importance of prize money.

We, as in teams and in my case Team Dignitas rarely see big parts of the prize money anyway. What we value is exposure in main stream media, in bigger esports media and prize money. If an event can supply that combined with experience from running events and a seriousness to their business we will attend.

The point jESUIT is making is the importance of authenticity in esports and I agree fully with him, authenticity will bring stability and stability will grow the interest of esports in mainstream media. One-off flashy events like the CGS or WSVG won’t.

So is there a perfect league or event? No not at the moment atleast but MLG and ESL are on their way getting there, my personal list of requirements for that perfect event would be:

1. Long term stability in game choices and income to pay prize money.
2. Competent pr-staff to grow and expose the event and teams in main stream media.
3. Decent breakdown of prize payouts down to say 8th place.
4. Good relations to internet-tv stations for spectators.
5. Communication with all stakeholders of an event. Organizers, teams and spectactors live in symbiosis and communication is an important factor for real growth of esports.