Esports are already online (obviously), but the pandemic is still creating huge challenges

< wpimage aligncenterid4661sizeSluglargelinkDestinationnone > <div class=wp block image><figure class=aligncenter size large><img src=httpswwwgambylcomwp contentuploads2021013 1jpg alt= class=wp image 4661><figure><div> < wpimage > < wpparagraph > <p>Golf basketball hockey and other sports have <a target= blank href=httpswwwcnncom20200312usus sports coronavirus responseindexhtml rel=noreferrer noopener>all suspended<a> their seasons Major league baseball says it may start up in late spring But <a target= blank href=httpswwwcnncom20180827usesports what is video game professional league madden trndindexhtml rel=noreferrer noopener>competitive video gaming<a> is going strong as <a target= blank href=httpswwwcnncom20191029investingesports video games nerd etfindexhtml rel=noreferrer noopener>esports<a> tournaments move their operations completely online<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Some companies including the Electronic Sports League Riot Games and Activision Blizzard <a target= blank href=httpsmoneycnncomquotequotehtmlsymb=ATVIsource=story quote link rel=noreferrer noopener>ATVI<a> resumed their competitions online after pulling events in the US Europe and Asia with a brief hiatus or no delay<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Its pretty incredible that both Overwatch League and Call of Duty League will be the only city based leagues still fortunate enough to operate in this current environment Pete Vlastelica president and CEO of Activision Blizzard Esports said in a statement to CNN Business<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>I miss traditional sports like we all do At the same time Im proud our leagues can compete online he said noting that Call of Duty League is still delayed but will be back online soon Activision did not comment on the delay<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Esports experienced a 37 increase in the average number of viewers per tournament last quarter compared to the same period last year according to Stream Hatchet a video game analytics company<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>As the esports industry draws more <a target= blank href=httpsblogstreamlabscomstreamlabs stream hatchet q1 2020 live streaming industry report 9630bc3e0e1e rel=noreferrer noopener>viewership online<a> its also attracting new interest in a world where traditional sports are on pause<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>The changing environment is turning both consumer and advertiser attention toward the gaming video content space with esports being part of this said Nicole Pike managing director of Nielsen Esports<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p><a target= blank href=httpswwwtwitchtvgdhayward rel=noreferrer noopener>Pro athletes<a> are spending more time playing and streaming video games and the US Navy recently launched an esports team called Goats Glory The United States Naval Academys mascot is Bill the Goat The<a target= blank href=httpsrecruitingarmymilarmy esports rel=noreferrer noopener> US Army<a> and the <a target= blank href=httpswwwusafaafmilNewsArticle1790212air force academy esports team wraps up 1st season rel=noreferrer noopener>US Air force<a> already have esports teams<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>With esports being a billion dollar industry and millions of consumers it was definitely a space we wanted to get into Captain Matt Smoke Boren chief marketing officer of the Navy Recruiting Command told CNN Business At a time where a lot of peoples activities have been disrupted sailors cant do face to face team activities anymore Its just a safe place to go to<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Esports have long copied the playbook of traditional sports organizing glitzy <a target= blank href=httpswwwcnncom20191110techleague world paris openingindexhtml rel=noreferrer noopener>in person events<a> that emulate the Super Bowl and the Olympics Some are now canceled<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>In February an Electronic Sports League event ran without a live audience due to concerns by state officials in Katowice Poland about coronavirus We suddenly had to scramble and tell everyone Dont come said Craig Levine global chief strategy officer of ESL Electronic Sports League<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Although some fans complained about the change on social media online viewership for the Counter Strike Global Offensive tournament was record breaking said Levine although the 11000 person stadium in which it was held<strong> <strong>was eerily empty except for players and staff<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Riot Games creator of League of Legends announced last November that it would host its annual World Championship in Shanghai China but that plan is in now in doubt The annual event typically falls in November<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>It might mean doing without a live audience or becoming an online only event Were scenario planning around all our options said Riot Games head of partnerships Naz Aletaha<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>For now Riots advertisers are understanding she said The video game company currently has deals with Mercedes Benz in China <a target= blank href=httpswwwcnncom20190923techluxury brands video gamesindexhtml rel=noreferrer noopener>Louis Vuitton<a> MasterCard State Farm and others<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>When an esports event goes fully<strong> <strong>online it creates disruption for gaming companies and their participants <a target= blank href=httpswwwthenationcomarticlecultureesports labor freelance rel=noreferrer noopener>There are fewer gigs<a> for the freelancers who <a target= blank href=httpswwwinvenglobalcomarticles10738esports freelancers share how the covid 19 pandemic has affected their work rel=noreferrer noopener>normally work<a> those events And instead of having a referee onsite players must be monitored from their homes to guarantee none cheat Companies increasingly require players to install tracking software and cameras in their homes<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Players may also face different internet speeds rom their home countries when they compete in a global event ESLs Levine said that for now regional events are being held to prevent this issue<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Its unclear whether companies can recoup<strong> <strong>losses from canceled in person<strong> <strong>events with increased viewership into ad and partnership revenue<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>For the ESL the increase in Twitch views doesnt translate dollar for dollar into revenue according to Levine And the company bore a significant loss when it had to refund tickets for its Polish event<p> < wpparagraph > < wpparagraph > <p>Were not able to directly benefit from<strong> <strong>increased viewership of online only games But weve been around for 20 years and were big believers said Levine who noted that such<strong> <strong>events cost much less to run than physical ones Well be surviving and thriving<p> < wpparagraph >