In today’s increasingly integrated world, it’s not uncommon to find interesting parallels between subjects from completely different fields. While the sentiment to defend traditional sports tries to resist the technological neo-romanticism, there is another side, increasingly rooted, where technology and sport coexist in an apparently symbiotic way.
Sporting gaming has its roots in the 1990s when the digital revolution began laying the foundation for a new, incredibly flourishing market—a sort of appetizer for what would later become an extraordinary success in the 2000s.
In recent years, the new eSports trend has taken on the shape of a global phenomenon, thanks to the widespread availability of the internet. It’s now commonplace to watch virtual sports competitions between users from all corners of the globe, with nearly complete elimination of geographical barriers. It is precisely thanks to this integrated multichannel approach that the digital sports market is beginning to take shape as a crucial business area.
Considered a true sport, eSports now generate a multi-billion-dollar industry. In 2019, analysts at Newzoo estimated the market share of the sector at 1.1 billion dollars, growing almost 27% from the previous year, in which global revenue was around 868 million. In such a profitable market, sponsorships, advertising, merchandising, and broadcasting rights were inevitable. This year, sponsorships are expected to exceed 450 million, with another 250 million coming from broadcasting rights. When factoring in advertising services, sales activities, and fees collected by video game companies, it becomes clear how much interest this discipline is gaining.
But there’s more: in recent years, eSports tournaments have become increasingly popular, with arenas packed with gamers, ready to battle each other. In these sacred temples of sweat and battle, it’s no longer a fantasy to hear the sound of gaming controllers replacing stadium chants. It’s a sad prospect from one angle, but equally captivating from another.
Although in the early 2000s, gaming was relegated to an activity for hardcore nerds, today it holds considerable significance. Who among us hasn’t played with a console or on their computer?
And truth be told, this is just the beginning. According to expert forecasts, by 2022, the eSports industry could surpass 2 billion dollars in annual revenue, with North America and China dominating the rankings.
And Italy? In 2017, our country ranked 10th in gaming revenue, with 1.2 million active users and revenues of around 130 million dollars.
The future of eSports seems well-defined, much to the dismay of traditional sports enthusiasts, those that involve sweat, effort, and achievements. However, even though eSports are now integrated into everyday life, there will always be a place for those who make physical sports their battle cry. Because as exciting as it may be to compete with others on online platforms, nothing and no one will ever replace the passion for sports played on the field—sports that make us dream as children, get passionate about as teenagers, and cheer for as adults (and as fans).
The key to all of this, as always, lies in balance: not being surprised by new trends, being flexible and open to new experiences. A common thread that unites all enthusiasts and experts in the field, driven by a single underlying factor: sport, the pure kind, the one that still makes us feel emotional.
BOCCONI STUDENTS FOR SPORT MANAGEMENT 
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