Page 25 - Delaware Lawyer - Winter 2023

out large venues for events. The 2013 League of Legends World Champion- ship sold out Los Angeles’ Staples Cen- ter, where the Lakers play, within one hour.1 A decade later, esports champi- onships are playing in ever-larger venues and still filling the house.
Spectators who can’t get to the ven- ues in person will often watch online via Twitch or even through traditional me- dia outlets.2 It is projected that the live streaming audience for esports could exceed 900 million viewers by 2024, while esports advertising spending in the U.S. alone approaches $200 million annually and is also projected to grow.3
The players involved at the highest levels of esports attain an impressive lev- el of celebrity while competing to win
cash prizes that oftentimes surpass those offered for traditional athletic events. The top-earning players from around the world have garnered between $4-$7 million overall in prize money.4 This in- cludes Danish superstar Johan Sunstein, known by his gaming name of N0tail. Not only is he one of the most success- ful players of all time, but his skills in Dota 2 landed him on Forbes’ “30 un- der 30” list at the age of 25.5
Esports should not be classified as a fad. Competitive gaming has roots that go back decades and while it may be a relatively newer phenomenon in North America, many other parts of the world have been embracing it for years. While it is true that video game titles may come and go, there is usually an exciting new
Esports should not be classified as a fad. Competitive gaming has roots that go back decades and while it may be a relatively newer phenomenon
in North America, many other parts of the world have been embracing it for years.
title on the horizon. Much like the X Games, when one event gets stale, you can count on another to take its place and generate new buzz. A newer game like Valorant is a prime example of this and continues to skyrocket in popular- ity. Likewise, if a game starts to run its course, it may take steps to self-correct. The stalwart Overwatch game recently morphed into Overwatch 2 and has re- generated some of the buzz that had been lost over time.
The Appeal of Esports for Education, Career
The growth in gaming in North America has been rapid, especially at the college level. Increasing numbers of colleges, large and small, from coast
WINTER 2023 DELAWARE LAWYER 23
EVAN KRAPE, ©UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE