The esports industry has already blown up massively over the last decade, but its expansion is set to grow even more exponentially in the next ten years. Competitive gaming has now become a huge spectator sport, and Canada could be about to lead the way in the development of esports stadiums.
A futuristic esports stadium is set to open in Toronto in 2025, and this could lead to a domino effect across the country with the construction of other esports venues.
eSports is Becoming a Huge Spectator Sport
It’s been a long time since esports were simply niche competitions. Now, the events are global sensations, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. A vast proportion of these people watch competitions online, but some prefer to go to stadiums to see the events unfold. The latter option could be about to boom, with Canada leading the way.
According to a recent report, around 500 million people around the world watch esports. It’s hugely popular in North America, and Canadian esports players have won $45,484,915.21 USD in total at the time of writing.
Aside from playing and watching the game, there’s a huge betting industry around competitive gaming. Esports betting covers major competitions and gives people a chance to wager on who they think will win. The betting industry helped traditional sports become more widespread over the years, and it could soon have the same effect on esports.
Huge Esports Arena Planned for Toronto
There have already been some major esports competitions hosted in Canada, but they’ve usually taken place at venues that are used for other things such as ice hockey. Soon, though, there could be a rise in dedicated stadiums that exist solely for esports.
One of the most exciting projects is the Toronto Esports Arena, which was announced by OverActive Media in 2021. The $500 million venue is set to open in 2025, and it will host more than 200 events every year. The stadium will be home to Toronto Ultra and Toronto Defiant.
Will This Lead to Other Esports Stadiums?
There’s a strong chance that the futuristic esports stadium in Toronto will spark a snowball effect across the rest of the country. Various projections suggest that competitive gaming is going to continue to expand, so it makes sense for other franchises to develop their own home stadiums, in the same way that sports teams do.
Glytch has announced plans to build multiple esports stadiums across North America over the next seven years, and some of these will be in Canada. Each facility will feature a 2,000-seat gaming arena and broadcasting studio. On top of that, Canada is set to host the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational in Vancouver, which highlights the country’s commitment to being at the forefront of esports.
It looks as though esports infrastructure is set to explode across Canada over the next decade. The Toronto stadium will serve as inspiration for others, and it won’t be long before there are other major stadiums in different cities.
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