Stadiums and arenas throughout the United States have been silent after the coronavirus halted all sporting events in March. At the moment, there is one way for sports fans to fill this unfortunate void.
Professional esports organizations are now the only competitive leagues still in season. As a result, video game franchises such as “League of Legends,” “NBA 2K” and “Madden NFL” have satisfied the sports craving that many Americans currently desire.
Categorized as “competitive, organized video gaming,” esports are comprised of various games and leagues to appeal to people all within the comfort of their home, according to CNN. The largest esports league is the Electronic Sports League.
Esports have gained more popularity in only a few short months during the times of social distancing. More people than ever are tuning in to the popular streaming site Twitch, with viewership up 31 percent in March alone.
This time of year, which typically involves several major events, is now completely void of competition. Just this month, fans have missed out on annual staples like March Madness, MLB Opening Day and The Masters golf tournament.
The landscape of sports has now changed, and some professional teams are taking note by joining the esports wave by participating in televised gaming tournaments between star professional athletes.
One of these new events is the first-ever NBA 2K Players Tournament, with players from across the league competing for the virtual “NBA 2K20” crown. Airing on ESPN and ESPN2, the tournament began on Friday, April 3, and is now down to its final four players.
A total of 16 players were chosen to compete and show off their skills in the tournament. Some of the notable on-court standouts in the tournament are Trae Young and Kevin Durant. Aside from being crowned the 2K20 champion, the winning player will also receive $10,000 to go toward the charity of their choosing.
On the same notion, current and former NFL players are coming together to also take part in esports with a “Madden NFL” players’ tournament.
The Fox Esports Madden NFL Invitational aired Sunday, March 29, on FS1, raising awareness for the CDC Foundation’s relief fund. In this tournament, eight NFL players competed in a total of seven matches in a two-hour telecast.
“Seeing so many people enthusiastically come together for a great cause in such a short time is a testament to the human spirit of cooperation that sports exemplify,” FOX Sports VP of Rights & Business Relationships Joe Franzetta said before the tournament. “We are excited to bring together such a dynamic group of talented individuals to help us create some much-needed sports entertainment in these difficult times.”
In addition to being the safest form of competition during a pandemic, the virtual esports events are far less costly to produce than physical events. Overall, the esports industry has grown exponentially over the past few years and is on pace to hit a valuation of $1.5 billion by the year 2023, according to Business Insider.
Although esports do not involve feats of athleticism, the events still carry a sense of competitive entertainment that sports fans seek. Few could have ever envisioned a spring without the NCAA Tournament or The Masters, but outlets like Twitch and ESPN are helping sports-lovers pass the time.
