New Yorkers have no shortage of opportunities to pack a 20,000-seat arena given the abundance of professional sports teams in the city. One of this summer’s top draws however was to see a championship event the likes of which few had previously seen.
The Fortnite World Cup, a competitive gaming contest, consumed Arthur Ashe Stadium, the home of the U.S. Open of Tennis, for a three-day event that saw a 16-year-old take home the $3 million prize. For perspective, that is a bigger winner’s check than Tiger Woods took home from this year’s Masters Tournament. Overall, $30 million in prize money was awarded.
The staggering prize totals turned heads around the country and put esports on the radar for the general public.
Competitive gaming has become a multimillion-dollar industry for players and executives alike, and in such a burgeoning field, the best might be yet to come.
Southern Methodist University professor Gary Brubaker examines where esports has come from and where it might head next.
