Esports Is Rapidly Growing, and Atlanta Has A Lot To Do With It

More than 2,700 people lined up outside of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre donning various team jerseys and holding signs. Later on inside, loud cheers and chants of “ATL! ATL!” came from the crowd when the local team was doing well along with boos when the opposing team had success.

For most, this paints a picture of a traditional sports event in Atlanta. In the summertime, most think of baseball or soccer. Both the Braves and Atlanta United are in the thick of their respective league schedules. But this is esports, and the Atlanta Reign, a product of the Overwatch League, hosted an event for the first time earlier this month. It was the second time in Overwatch League history that a team hosted an event and it sold out to roughly 4,500 passionate fans.