The gaming and live event industries have been very excited about e-sports, gaming in front of live audiences. Worldwide, the figures are already huge, although Europe is trailing somewhat.For those that missed the start of the game, it is a worldwide industry that is already well structured with professional tournament, teams & players (generating considerable earnings) – and lots of investment from brands, organisers and TV.
If you are trying to break into the business, is it worth going? Let’s take a look.
The E-SPORTS INDUSTRY to MEET in Cannes
The E-Sposrts Bar in Cannes (February 12-14, 2019) is an opportunity to get face-to-face with the key players of the industry. The core of the event is the Forum, the 3-day conference and networking programme designed to help delegates develop their business strategy in esports and grow their expertise.
The Forum offers: Mentoring & Business Insight Sessions, Demo Space & Showcase and Networking Opportunities. alongside this, a number of events and keynotes will provide business insights:
- German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Sports MD Stefan Zant will share insights on why esports is now a central strategic objective for the media networks.
- Keynote speaker Ryan Wyatt is head VR and Gaming at YouTube where he oversees both the Gaming business and the growing Virtual Reality business.
- NFL’s Head of Digital Production Matt Schnider and Twitch’s Head of Esports Justin Dellario wil discuss the potential of NFL’s content on digital platforms – the kicker?
- Former professional League of Legends player, Carlos “ocelote” Rodríguez created the esports organisation G2 Esports. He lead the team to successes in League of Legends, CS:GO, Rocket League, and Hearthstone. He will share in Cannes his experience as an esports leader.
- The Game Shakers Awards are the first truly international esports awards. They recognise individuals and companies that have taken esports beyond endemic fans and reached mainstream audiences. Finalists have been chosen by a jury of internationally-respected esports experts
Is it worth attending this year?
Any trip to Cannes costs both time and money. So is it worth spending both to go?
The answer largely depends on where you are in your business already. My take: this is a rapidly growing industry, with lots of potential on every side, from event organisation to the supply of services and programmes for TV and the web. Some 600 people attended the first event last year. For me, this means that reaching people should be relatively easy if you go. If you are serious about the business, I would give it a try.
Which esports companies are attending in 2019?
Amongst the companies are attending in 2019, you will find: Activision Blizzard, Air Asia, Badminton World Federation, Battlefly, Critical Force, CNB Esports, Danone Waters, Domino’s Pizza, Dreamback, Dynamo Kiev, EDF, Electronic Arts, ESforce, ESL, European Broadcasting Union, Fnatic, G2, Hyper X, IBM, Intel, Lagardere Sports Germany, Mediapro, Mastercard, Millenial Esports, Orange, Pepsico, Rai.com, Renault, Super Evil Megacorp, Superchannel, Team Empire, Team Vitality, The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Sports, Visa, Voyages SCNF and Webedia.
For details, visit Esports Bar Cannes.