League of Legends: Could it be America’s No. 2 Sport?
According to recent studies, over 70 million people worldwide watched esports in 2013, double the previous year’s viewership. The phenomenal growth of esports is turning it into a major spectator sport that rivals traditional sports.
Surprisingly, the League of Legends Season 3 World Championship had more viewers than the World Series, Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and the BCS National Championship Game. This success has raised the question: could the Super Bowl be next?
While this may seem absurd, reports from SuperData and NewZoo suggest that it is possible, although their viewership numbers are global, not national.
The success of esports is driving the growth and revenue of companies like Riot Games, Wargaming, and Valve. These companies are investing in esports because it has become a key marketing vehicle and revenue driver for online game publishers.
Esports and free-to-play games like League of Legends, Dota 2, and World of Tanks are intertwined, according to NewZoo. Gamers spend a significant amount of time and money on their favorite game franchises, making esports a lucrative market.
Big companies such as Coca-Cola and Intel have also recognized the potential of esports and are targeting the large demographic of esports viewers.
Key Statistics
- Esports viewership has doubled each of the past three years, reaching 71.5 million viewers in 2013, with 31.4 million in the United States.
- One quarter of esports viewers attend live events and watch daily, with the average viewer tuning in for 2.2 hour sessions 19 times a month.
- 59 percent of esports viewers belong to the 21 to 35 age demographic, and they are big spenders. 22 percent of esports enthusiasts spend top dollar on games, compared to only 8 percent of all gamers.
It’s clear why developers and marketers are targeting esports and its young, affluent fans.
Wargaming, developer of World of Tanks, has invested millions of dollars in esports and expects to see a significant return on investment. SuperData predicts that World of Tanks’ revenue will rise from $475 million in 2014 to $590 million in 2015, and League of Legends’ monthly active users will grow from 52 million to 94 million over the same time frame.
Source: OnGamers | Screengrab via ESL TV/YouTube
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