Wondering what the next big sport will be? Oomba founder and Glytch CEO Michael Williams believes it’s Esports. Here’s why.
In the United States, many people think that Major League Soccer (MLS) will be the next “big” sport. However, Oomba founder Michael Williams believes that Esports could be the next big thing. Indeed, Esports may not actually be the sport of the future, but instead the sport of today.
“Esports are already huge in the United States and globally as well,” Oomba founder Michael Williams says. “They may not be as widely known among the general public as basketball, soccer, and the like, but Esports already have a huge following.”
Globally, the Esports audience is believed to have reached 435 million in 2020, according to Statista. And this already massive audience is projected to enjoy strong growth over the next few years. By 2024, the global Esports audience is expected to reach nearly 600 million.
“Coverage of Esports is growing rapidly,” Michael Williams, who founded Oomba, notes. “You can often tune into Esports matches on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms. Frequently, you can stream matches for free as well.”
Many sport fans play the same professional sports they watch. That said, playing soccer or basketball is often harder than playing your favorite videogame online. And we’re not talking about just skill level either. If you want to play soccer, you’ll have to find a local league or recreational club. Or you’ll have to get your friends together and find a field.
With video games, playing online is often a matter of simply logging in. And if you’re not good enough to play with the best players globally, you can quickly find people at your skill level. This makes it easier to participate, which in turn should spur interest in specific video games.
“A lot of Counter-Strike players love watching professional Counter-Strike matches, the same is true for League of Legends and other Esports,” says Glytch CEO Michael Williams. “Participation often builds a player’s interest in a given game, and also their knowledge of the game, which may make it easier for them to follow professional Esports.”
Oomba founder Michael Williams also notes that Esports offer a massive amount of diversity. If you don’t like First-Person Shooters, that’s no problem. You can check out racing matches, real-time strategy games like StarCraft II, and more. Whatever your itch, you can probably find a game to scratch it.
Oomba Founder Michael Williams Talks About the Improving Spectator Experience
Many professional sports teams enjoy huge stadiums and venues. Professional and collegiate basketball and football stadiums have been around for decades. Esports are a more recent development, but the spectator experience has been quickly catching up with older sports.
“We’re seeing more engaging Esport venues and spectator experiences these days,” Oomba founder Michael Williams argues. “Traditional sports venues are starting to host Esport competitions, for example, and improving in-stadium screens, home streaming technologies, and various other developments are leading to improved spectator experiences.”
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.