eSports, a billion-dollar industry Part 3: Global sponsorship and the way forward
Riot Games Of the USD1.5 billion worldwide eSports market , investors account for 50 per cent and sponsors/advertisers are close behind at 35 per cent . The remaining portion is comprised of prize pools (6 per cent), merchandise and ticket sales (5 per cent), and betting and amateur tournaments (5 per cent). Intel, T-mobile, Coca-Cola, Airbus, Mercedes-Benz and Nike are some of the biggest sponsors at the moment. The link is obvious for internet-computer moguls Intel and T-Mobile, but what’s in it for Airbus and Mercedes-Benz? Coca-Cola Company eSports puts brands in front of an audience that is becoming notoriously difficult to reach . The viewers of eSports’ content are less likely to consume traditional media . They grew up watching YouTube and getting content on demand. For them, heading to popular video game streaming site Twitch to watch a match is traditional. Primarily comprised of millennials, they are also v ery savvy at avoiding old-school advertis...