Demand for Esports-Friendly Venues to Grow

Competitive esports is booming and achieving impressive revenue growth globally. As esports leagues and their constituent franchises have professionalized, they have attracted global players, including Disney, Comcast and the owners of the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Mavericks.

In addition to the millions streaming esports competitions online, attendance at live competitions has attracted thousands of rabid fans increasing the demand for properly equipped and configured facilities, including the redevelopment of existing facilities. Recent examples of redevelopment and reuse include the conversion of the Burbank, California, studios of The Tonight Show to a custom competition, broadcasting, retail and training facility for esports; the Blizzard Arena; and using the complex that houses the world famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood for esports events. At the Luxor and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, a former 30,000-foot nightclub will be converted to a competitive esports destination. The developer of the Luxor facility, Allied Esports, anticipates building ten-to-fifteen additional locations in North America over the next few years.