One of the hottest topics to be debated at the 2017 edition of GiGse (April 26 – 28, Marriott Marquis Marina, San Diego) is the eSports phenomenon and how the gaming sector can gain market share of what is a $900m economy. Day 1’s Talking Heads session, entitled ‘Our relationship with eSports – we’re moving in together!’ will feature industry experts including Adam Steinberg, Senior Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group; Kingsley Edwards, Founder and CEO, Leet; Seth Schorr, CEO, Fifth Street Gaming and Dan Kelly, Principal, The Factory Network. Key debates will include how operators can refine their casino based eSports offering, how to monetize the tournament industry as well as posing the question is there a conversion between on-premise eSports activity and casino revenue?
Sadie Walters, Conference Manager responsible for GiGse said: “With architects confidently predicting the development of purpose built state of the art eSports arenas and the very real possibility of eSports becoming an Olympic event, perhaps as early as Tokyo 2020, the commercial opportunities for gaming entrepreneurs are huge.”
Industry experts are predicting that the first purpose built stadia could come on stream within three years complete with commercial enabling facilities provided by food and beverage and shopping malls. With the only restrictions seemingly being the imaginations of the architects, eSports visionaries have outlined plans to transform the experience harnessing augmented reality and enabling spectators to track the biometrics of ‘ athletes’ and feel their heartbeat pulsing through specially configured chairs to deliver a premium experience.
Sadie Walters added: “Gaming is one of the earliest adopters of new technology and the marriage with eSports could be one made in heaven.”
GiGse offers a unique opportunity to prepare gaming brands for the challenges and opportunities which lie ahead. With a focus on ‘unconventional thinking’ it will explore the technology, innovations and potential regulatory hurdles facing all gaming brands operating in North America.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.gigse.com
