Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Esports are becoming very popular around the world with some expectations to reach one billion individuals by the end of the year.
Popularity, of course, varies by game and region. League of Legends is often the most watched, while Fortnite is one of the most played.
The idea of competition has exploded to not only include Fortnite but other games like NCAA College Football, Madden Football and Super Mario.
Two local businessmen are hoping to capitalize on this popularity, opening their own Esports site at Uptown Mall to promote competition. Skyler Jeter and Chase Piegler have opened GameDay NRV in the former Claire’s retail site adjacent to Bath and Body Works.
Jeter said they wanted to create a place where anyone could get out of the house and mingle with other gamers.
GameDay NRV in the 1,800 sq. ft space has four 75-inch televisions, two racing setups, four switches and four Nintendo spots. They can have as many as four people at every spot.
Jeter said they will charge a $50 membership and will show some sporting events on the weekends.
“We hope to host several tournaments including ones for College Football,” he said.
Recent numbers show the audience is predominantly male, and younger individuals are increasingly favoring Esports over traditional sports.
The idea of major events like the League of Legends World Championship attract millions of viewers and offer multi-million-dollar prizes.
Colleges like Radford University are offering Esports while more sports organizations and international events are embracing competitive gaming.
Analysts predict the market will surpass $7 billion by 2030, and the research suggests the Esports boom isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Professional leagues like the National Basketball Association’s NBA 2K League feature 25 teams affiliated with each NBA team. The Premier League also boasts an Esports league. Colleges are also stepping up to the screen. Radford University has an official Esports team, which competes in the Mid-Atlantic Esports Conference (MAEC).
For the first time in its brief history this past spring, Radford captured the MAEC crown while competing against collegiate teams from Penn State, Mount St Mary’s, Bryant & Stratton College, Glenville State and the University of Delaware.
Competition included Valorant, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Rocket League.
Radford University’s Mitchell Franklin has also participated in the NBA 2K Esports League for the past three years. His uniform has included the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, he has transitioned into coaching as assistant for the Knicks Gaming team and recently was named the inaugural head coach for the expansion team NBL Oz Gaming, an Australian-based team. He was honored as the 2023 NBA 2K Coach of the Year.
Franklin also served as assistant coach for the USA Basketball E-National Team, which achieved an undefeated 19-0 record and won the eFIBA Season World Finals gold medal.
Radford University offers a minor in esports services focusing on play, community, team-building, inclusion, marketing, and event planning. According to the university, offered jointly with the English and Marketing departments, this minor prepares students for careers in this burgeoning field. Courses include those dedicated to the esports ecosystem, game design, and marketing.
Meanwhile GameDay NRV hopes all this popularity will produce a demand for their service. Anyone interested in gaming at the site can contact GameDay NRV through its Facebook page or website at gamedaynrv.com.
