Future SEQ: Video gaming on steroids set to hit state’s stadiums
TENS of thousands of video games fanatics will pack southeast Queensland arenas to watch tournaments as eSport becomes a multi-billion dollar industry, write Daryl Passmore and Chris Honnery.
Future QLD
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TENS of thousands of video games fanatics will pack southeast Queensland arenas to watch tournaments as eSport becomes a multi-billion dollar industry over coming years.
The state’s top venue operator and mastermind behind the planned Brisbane Live indoor arena, Harvey Lister, says the potential is limitless.
“There is no doubt it has exploded. It is virtually out of control, the size of the interest globally.”
The AEG Ogden chairman revealed that detailed plans submitted to the State Government for the new 17,000-seat arena to be built over the Roma St railway lines contained specifications for facilities to host eSports events.
“We are in advanced discussions about securing more than one world-level event each year for Brisbane Live” he says.
But the pace of growth means it is possible events will be staged at existing venues such as the Brisbane Entertainment Centre even before the new arena is built.
AEG Odgen, which runs dozens of venues here and overseas, including Suncorp Stadium and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, also expects to set up an SEQ-based professional eSports team. It is looking at establishing a franchise under the Sydney Kings franchise. Its global partner AEG Sports runs one in Los Angeles.
Teams play online games – beamed onto a central cluster of huge video screens surrounded by spectators.
Australia’s first university eSports gaming arena was opened at the Queensland University of Technology earlier this year, in a bid to join the global phenomenon.
Nowadays, eSports such as League of Legends, Dota 2 and Rocket League are attracting as many as 60 million viewers on live streams and drawing investment from sports clubs, sponsors and advertisers.
The prize money has reached astronomical heights, with the biggest prize pool for a single tournament reaching $33 million.
QUT eSports co-ordinator Dylan Poulus said they hoped to create a “grassroots” system for hopeful young competitors.
“We’ve got the most developed program in the country – training, industry linkages, competitions and a pathway to professional involvement in a billion dollar industry as either a player or behind the scenes,” he said. “In traditional sports like cricket, you have a grassroots club system that brings players up through the ranks. But there was no pathway like that with eSports – there’s no junior club you can sign up with – so that’s the void we are filling.”
Cinema chain HOYTS has built an eSports arena in one of its Sydney venues.
“HOYTS plans to open more of these arena style venues throughout Australia over the coming years,” a spokesman said.
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