HOK/SAP Report Explores Future of Esports Arenas
Date Posted: June 11, 2019
Posted In: Ideas, White Papers,
Supported by technology advances, esports is emerging as one of the fastest growing sectors in the sport and entertainment industry. In addition to online gaming, demand for arena-based tournaments is also increasing, opening up multibillion-dollar opportunities. In a newly-released paper, designers from design firm HOK and experts from software company SAP explore the esports venue of the future. Together, they reimagine traditional arena design and consider what tech-savvy customers are looking for in an esports venue – from greater connectivity to hospitality-driven environments.
Though they’re touted as a new phenomenon, esports go back more than 40 years. In the 1970s, universities around the world hosted the first local area network (LAN) parties. In 1977, a German TV station first aired a program called Telespiele (Video Games) that showed two people competing in a game of Pong by Atari SA in front of a live audience.
The growth of esports is often associated with specific games or platforms. Well-known examples include multiplayer games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, and Dota 2 and live-streaming video platforms such as Amazon-owned Twitch Interactive Inc.
However, the success of esports does not depend on any one of these. Consider the birth of the film industry in the early 20th century. While specific directors became known for their blockbusters, no individual was responsible for the industry’s long-term success. Today, with millions of dollars in prize money at stake, esports players compete in multiplayer
games and organized tournaments. These take place online and, increasingly, in arenas packed with spectators who want to experience the event live and take in the competitions on large screens.
For the League of Legends World Championship Finals in Incheon, South Korea, on November 3, 2018, more than 50,000 fans filled the stadium and tens of millions followed the action online.