Page 27 - Delaware Lawyer - Winter 2023

the Perkins Student Center on Acad- emy Street. The groups at the club level also provide us with vital informa- tion on what games are trending up, which games are starting to fade away and what the general esports landscape looks like through the lens of a college student.
It is important to note that while we do have a varsity esports program at Delaware, it is not housed under the athletic department. For a variety of reasons, many institutions operate their programs under a student life/ student affairs banner. That is how it is done at UD. Our Blue Hens currently compete in four gaming titles (Hearth- stone, League of Legends, Overwatch 2 and Rocket League). There is po- tential for expanding on those titles as our program continues to grow. We are keeping our eye on emerging titles such as Valorant as well as old standbys like Super Smash Bros. as possible ad- ditions to our varsity portfolio.
From the standpoint of competi- tion, we have been fortunate to have strong teams that have accounted very well for themselves on the national lev- el in a variety of different leagues. But our program is not just about match results. Varsity players at UD do more than just play games. They receive high-level coaching and are exposed to developmental sessions in topics such as leadership, team-dynamics, commu- nication and more. They are also held to a rigorous GPA standard to retain eligibility. The goal of our program is to develop well-rounded individuals who also compete at the highest levels in their titles.
UD’s Esports Arena is open to the entire campus for recreational play. Dozens of gaming titles are avail- able for students and staff to play (at no cost) on a daily basis. The Arena has become a vibrant location that is well-utilized by students as a way to decompress after classes. It has also be-
come an eye-catching recruiting tool as dozens of admissions tours pass by our glass storefront windows each and every week and peer into the dynamic space.
Broadcasting (or “shoutcasting” as it is generally known in esports) via Twitch has grown each semester at UD. Student casters call the action of the various matches from our built-in broadcast hub in the arena. Students receive hands-on experience with top- of-the-line audio and video equipment while providing yet another way for Blue Hens to engage with the teams that are representing their school.
There is now even an esports major. UD’s new Game Studies and Esports major is an interdisciplinary educa- tional program in which participants can take courses in many areas, includ- ing game design, games in culture and
society, sports management and other fields. While still in its relative infancy, the wide scope of this program has been successful in piquing student interest, and enrollment numbers are projected to continue to rise.
NOTES
1. League of Legends Finals Sells Out LA's Staples Center in an Hour (Tassi). https://www.forbes.com/sites/insert- coin/2013/08/24/league-of-legends- finals-sells-out-las-staples- center-in-an- hour/?sh=279a373932b8
2. League Of Legends Worlds 2022 Finals Breaks Peak Viewership Record (Garcia). https://www.dualshockers.com/league- of-legends-worlds-2022-breaks-viewership- record
3. 75 Significant Esports Statistics: 2023 Market, Viewership & Investment Growth (Gilbert) https://financesonline.com/ esports-statistics
4. Esports Earnings 2023 – Top Players, Games And Tournaments https://www. esports-betting.pro/esports-earnings
5. 30 Under 30 2019: Games https:// www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019/ games/#4bc08fd263ec
EVAN KRAPE, ©UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
WINTER 2023 DELAWARE LAWYER 25