World Travel: Esports Adventures
Esports tourism involves travel to cities around the world to attend or participate in major electronic sports tournaments and festivals, with exploration of a host city or region.
FYI: While esport travelling you should also be aware of “Esport Insider” for quick payout casino sites. Esports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete against each other in organized leagues and tournaments for prizes, recognition, and potentially, a professional career. It's a rapidly growing industry with significant financial backing, attracting large audiences and sponsorships, similar to traditional sports.
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is an annual international esports tournament series run by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a nonprofit organization. It is considered the largest professional esports event in the world in terms of total prize pool and number of game titles represented, with US$62.5 million awarded across individual tournament prize pools, rewards for teams that qualify to events, most valuable player awards, and the Club Championship. The tournament takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July to August each year.
Esport Stadiums
The Singapore Indoor Stadium is often cited as the largest by capacity, capable of holding 12,000 spectators for major events like the Dota 2 International.
Other large venues include the yet-to-open Qiddiya City Esports Arena in Saudi Arabia, which will feature the world's largest total video screen area and 5,300 seats, and the Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, is a 100,000-square-foot facility for up to 2,500 seated spectators.
Esport Cities
The top major esports cities globally include Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Seoul, which are recognized for their significant infrastructure, large ecosystems, and ability to host major international tournaments, according to the 2024 Global Esports Industry Development Report. Other influential cities include Beijing, Riyadh, Shenzhen, and Chengdu.
All of these cities have major tourist attractions that make them more than just an Esport destination.
Asia:
Shanghai: (China): Ranked the most influential esports city in the world due to its strong infrastructure, comprehensive service capabilities, and role as a major hub for large-scale events like the League of Legends World Championship.
Seoul: (South Korea): Known as the birthplace of modern esports, Seoul benefits from a deep-rooted gaming culture, government support for the industry, and iconic venues like the LoL Park and OGN Giga Arena.
Beijing, Shenzhen, & Chengdu: (China): Also featured in the top 10 globally, these cities contribute significantly to China's status as an esports "supermarket".
North America:
Los Angeles: (USA): A significant hub for esports, home to the LCS Studio for League of Legends and capable of hosting major finals in venues like the Staples Center.
Middle East:
Riyadh: (Saudi Arabia): Gaining global prominence through substantial financial investments and policy incentives, including hosting the Esports World Cup.
Europe:
While specific cities are not ranked in the top 3, Europe has influential esports scenes, as seen with the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.
Esport World Cup
Citeria for being an esport city
Infrastructure:
Cities with dedicated esports venues and strong digital infrastructure are key.
Events:
Hosting mega-events like the League of Legends World Championships, the Esports World Cup, and the Asian Games drives influence.
Ecosystem Development:
A strong local industry, including event organizers, clubs, and supporting services, contributes to a city's esports standing.
Government Support:
National and local government policies and investments play a crucial role in fostering growth and establishing cities as global hubs.
Last Word
Like golfers flocking to Scotland or Ireland, those into esports love to travel esport cities to see the facilities and to experience the thrill of the competition as participants or spectators.