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Esports competition continues to enjoy increased popularity and rapid adoption professionally and at both K-12 and collegiate levels. According to the National Association of Collegiate Esports, more than 260 U.S. colleges have launched esports programs at the varsity level and are offering an average of $16 million per year in scholarships.
Like traditional sports, esports fosters teamwork, communication, and problem solving. In education, schools and universities are incorporating gaming into their curriculum and extracurricular activities enabling participants to develop important skills that can be applied in both personal and professional contexts.
The unique performance needs of esports facilities requires a broad level of knowledge and expertise to ensure the AV system provides a good experience for players and spectators alike. Even if you’re starting completely from scratch, don’t feel overwhelmed. We are esports experts.
Gaming versus Esports
Recreational
Esports originates from gaming. The roots of gaming can be traced back many years to the earliest offering of video games. You are a “gamer” if you play single or multiplayer video games of any sort on devices such as phones, consoles, or computers. The act of playing is called “gaming”. The difference between gaming and esports is easy to understand; think recreational gaming versus competitive gaming for prizes and recognition. It is like playing sports with friends versus playing professionally.
Esports
Some of the most popular gaming platforms have become part of the esports ecosystem. Esports is played at club levels with leagues. Tournaments and championships often involve monetary awards. These matches consist of individuals or teams playing against each other. This can take place directly in game or indirectly against individual times and scores. Popular tournaments around the world are played in large stadiums and arenas and are set up just like a basketball game or a large concert with local audience sizes up to 30,000 people.
Growth and Market Potential
Competitive video game events date back to the 1970’s. Esports went mainstream in 1980 with Atari’s Space Invaders Championship comprising of 10,000 participants. The esports industry has experienced and enjoyed exponential growth ever since. The global esports market size was valued at $1.4 billion USD in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR – compound annual growth rate of 24.4% through 2027. This market features dedicated tradeshows that are put on and attended by many of the electronics’ industry tech giants. Esports enjoys hundreds of community-based web sites for news and live streaming. It caters to approximately 550 million players and viewers. Esports is driven by the larger gaming industry, which is estimated to be valued at $250 billion USD. Ongoing consideration is taking place by the IOC for esports inclusion in the 2026 Olympics. Rapid growth continues across private, education, and live event sectors. Competition and multipurpose esports arenas are becoming part of the landscape in many cities throughout the United States. These venues offer general gaming for the public and are also used for tournaments. In many cases, repurposing of existing facilities is taking place. For example, movie theaters are finding new life by transforming into esports venues. Fans can watch major tournaments and participate in local competitions.
Participants and Roles
The esports ecosystem is vast. As with any large industry, it is comprised of many supporting groups and disciplines. These include game developers with their own sales and marketing teams. Recruiters, agents, sponsors, and PR managers are also highly involved in daily management activities with continued industry growth in mind.
- Players: Compete in matches, travel globally, and engage with fans.
- Coaches: Motivate players and develop strategies.
- Analysts: Translate game data into performance insights.
- Admins and Referees: Enforce rules and manage match integrity.
- Shoutcasters: Commentate and energize live audiences.
- Hosts: Present tournaments and conduct interviews.
- Observers: Control in-game cameras for streams.
- Audience: Fans viewing in-person or online.
- Organizers and Support Staff: Manage and produce tournaments.
Organizations and Affiliations
The esports industry lacks unified governing bodies at all levels, despite its size, popularity, and influence. It is somewhat fragmented with several organizations around the world vying for supremacy. The intellectual property aspect of the games themselves makes it difficult since these interested groups are not in control of the rules and gameplay. Despite this situation, there is common interest and activity by all to further advance the industry. Mergers and partnerships are announced regularly as this market continues to grow and mature.
To date, the US Department of Education does not consider esports a “sport”, so it is less regulated than traditional sports. The USCIS – US Citizenship and Immigration Services does recognize qualified players as athletes. It grants visas to individuals in support of tournament play and for those earning money through US companies. This could lead to wider adoption and embracement, especially in the education sector.
Primary associations, alliances, and affiliations: Individuals, pro teams, and educational institutions participate in competition by establishing clubs and joining leagues. There are several gaming platforms catering at various levels for tournament play, such as Battlefy, Toornament, PlayVS, and others. Many will partner with game publishers to pull data from matches for performance tracking of individual players.
Esports in Education
Esports requires a tremendous amount of critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity from players to achieve and sustain success. With easy access and a low cost to entry, esports reaches beyond traditional sports in education to create an all-inclusive environment that breaks barriers. Engaged students perform better in school. Esports has the unique ability to appeal to and engage a wider audience. For many students, esports is the first time they’ve participated in a coached, athletic activity. Educators are realizing that like traditional sports, esports fosters teamwork, communication, and problem solving.
Esports Benefits for Students:
- Compliments SEL – Social and Emotional Learning
- Sense of Community and Leadership
- Character Development
- Promotes Positive Digital Citizenship
- Scholarship Opportunities
- Embodies ISTE Standards
- Increases Achievement and Accountability
Esports Systems
Esports is a booming global industry that has transformed video gaming into a spectator sport. Much like traditional sports, esports has an ecosystem of players, teams, commentators, event organizers, and fans. Esports tournaments are hosted at all levels, from casual online contests to sold-out arenas and broadcast events viewed by millions.
To support the needs of gamers, coaches, broadcasters, and spectators, well-designed esports venues rely on AV technology. These systems include high-performance video distribution, streaming, recording, sound reinforcement, and centralized control for seamless operation and a professional viewing experience.
Equipment and Requirements
Competitive gamers use powerful computers with fast graphics cards and high-resolution displays. Headsets with microphones provide clear communication with teammates, while specialized peripherals such as mechanical keyboards and gaming mice offer the performance and customization pros demand. Consoles may be used in some competitions, depending on the game.
Esports venues require robust AV systems to route multiple video sources, capture gameplay, send feeds to projectors and displays, and integrate with streaming platforms. Audio systems amplify commentary and sound effects, while control systems simplify operation for technical staff.
Design Considerations
System design for esports varies by venue type. Broadcast studios and arenas demand high-capacity AV routing, video wall processing, and redundant systems to ensure smooth operation. School and campus arenas often emphasize ease of use, flexibility, and scalability. Streaming facilities need integration with streaming PCs and platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.
In all environments, minimizing latency is crucial. Delays between player action and on-screen response can negatively affect performance and viewer experience. Esports AV systems must be optimized for speed and reliability.
Pro AV in Esports
AV technology plays a central role in delivering the energy and excitement of esports. Video switchers and scalers allow multiple game feeds to be displayed simultaneously. Signal processors enable smooth transitions between gameplay, player cams, and graphics overlays. Audio mixers combine in-game sound, commentary, and music for live and broadcast audiences.
Control systems tie everything together, allowing technical teams to manage complex setups with presets and touch panels. AV over IP solutions provide scalability and simplify signal routing over standard network infrastructure.
Extron and Esports
Extron provides powerful AV solutions for esports applications. Our systems deliver ultra-low latency video switching, scalable AV distribution, and intuitive control, enabling venues to meet the high expectations of gamers and spectators alike.
With decades of experience in education, entertainment, and broadcast environments, Extron supports the design and implementation of reliable, high-performance AV systems tailored to esports needs. Contact us to learn more about our esports solutions.
