WHY ESPORTS?
According to the World Economic Forum, the global audience for esports is expected to reach 380 million in 2018. Established sports franchise owners understand the potential of esports, with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, recently purchasing a majority stake in an esports organization, and the New York Yankees entering into a partnership deal with the investment group Vision Esports, as noted by The Esports Observer.
By 2021, global games market intelligence company Newzoo anticipates that “All major U.S. media conglomerates will have digital esports media rights,” and that esports will grow into a market bigger than that of traditional professional sports.
I predict that by 2024 esports will actually have an Olympic event!”
Visionary/economist Bob Froelich is quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune
Esports Rampant Growth & Opportunity
The esports field is perfect for anyone interested in event management, communications, gameplay, coaching, exercise science, or in being part of a field that promises to grow more prominent and engaging with every passing year
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In 2018, a championship event for Overwatch teams filled the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The center holds 19,000 people. These kinds of events promise to only grow in size and scope.
As noted on CNBC by Peter Guber, a co-owner of the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Dodgers and the professional esports organization Team Liquid, being able to fill a particular place isn’t necessary for esports.
You'll see that it's everywhere, and it isn't bound by geography. You don't use a stick or a bat to play, and you can play alone or with a whole group of people, play against the best."
Peter Guber | Co-owner of Team Liquid
Recent numbers from the World Economic Forum show that “esports viewers spent 17.9 million hours watching their gaming heroes [on Twitch and YouTube’s gaming channel] in the first quarter of 2018.” And Twitch, a live feed service where people can watch others play video games, has five million active daily users.
This is a world that needs a workforce. And those involved in the industry can be well-compensated. According to Glassdoor.com, a senior ecommerce operations manager for Blizzard Entertainment, a division of esports juggernaut Activision Blizzard, can earn up to $164,000, while a freelance esports and video game writer can earn up to $68,000.
By 2020, the industry’s anticipated more than $1 billion of worth will match or surpass the 2017 revenues cleared by the NCAA, as well as the social media influencers market.
A new world has arrived, right at your fingertips.
We’re ready to pick up the controller and play.
Are You?
Esports News
Grab Your Controller! Esports Arena Opening This August New esports arena will support both university and high school gamers
New esports arena will support both university and high school gamers
Shenandoah University is building a new state-of-the-art esports arena that will not only accommodate the school’s esports program, but also the sport’s growing popularity and upcoming launch into ... Continue Reading Grab Your Controller! Esports Arena…
What Is Esports? Listen to the Podcast on 95.3 The River
Listen to the Podcast on 95.3 The River
We were in the studio with Dr. Joey Gawrysiak, Director of eSports & Associate Professor of Sports Management & eSports at Shenandoah University. Dr. Joey G gave us an education on what ... Continue Reading What Is Esports? Listen to…
Level Up At Esports Summer Camp! Shenandoah hosts its first Esports Summer Camp July 22-26 & July 29-August 2
Shenandoah hosts its first Esports Summer Camp July 22-26 & July 29-August 2
Students ages 10-18! Compete with us in esports this summer! July 22-26 & July 29-August 2 | 10 am-3 pm daily The camp takes place in the SCiL Lab on Shenandoah University's Winchester ... Continue Reading Level Up At Esports Summer…
ESPORTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR & TEAM COACH
Joey Gawrysiak
Joey Gawrysiak holds the controller in the world of esports academia.
He has made the international esports rounds, with appearances on podcasts, radio shows and even a cruise line, and has presented at several gaming and sport management events—including the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand and the Music and Gaming Educational Symposium. Gawrysiak has written several articles on esports and is in the process of creating a chapter for the first dedicated esports textbook. He has hosted esports tournaments and served as a guest lecturer and consultant for several universities. Gawrysiak was a competitive gamer in Halo: Combat Evolved while in college.
We're Ranked in the top 50 Esports Programs in the country
If you’re looking for colleges to attend that have killer eSports programs, you’ve come to the right place. SU has one of the 50 best college eSports programs in existence.
Whether you’re a serious competitor, a content creator looking to launch a career in eSports, or just play games as a hobby, SU has what you need to take your game to the next level.
