College esports is set to explode in popularity thanks to the Fiesta Bowl tournament. The tournament was held at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Fitness Complex and the space was outfitted with a stage, 12 gaming PCs, two massive screens, dozens of lights and cameras and a raised commentator desk. The Fiesta Bowl hosted gamers competing in the popular FPS Overwatch, with the four finalists UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and the University of Toronto all competing for a collegiate title.
The Fiesta Bowl was the first collegiate esports tournament of this size and based on the massive amount of attendees other universities are starting to take notice. More academic establishments are beginning to offer scholarships for competitive gaming, and the National Association of Collegiate Esports has even recognized 60 similar programs. Continued events like the Fiesta Bowl really push the legitimacy of esports and is now poised to be the premiere college tournament of its kind.
Image Credit: Engadget: Jessica Conditt
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Growth of Collegiate Esports
- The Fiesta Bowl tournament is paving the way for the explosive popularity of collegiate esports, encouraging more academic institutions to offer scholarships for competitive gaming.
- Recognition of Collegiate Esports
- The National Association of Collegiate Esports has acknowledged 60 similar programs, highlighting the growing recognition and legitimacy of esports in the college sector.
- Emergence of Premier College Tournaments
- The Fiesta Bowl is set to become the premier college esports tournament, creating disruption and establishing a new standard for collegiate gaming events.
Sectors Adopting This
- Higher Education Institutions
- More academic establishments are taking notice and offering scholarships for competitive gaming, creating opportunities for collaboration between gaming companies and higher education institutions.
- Esports Organizations
- The recognition and legitimacy of esports in the college sector opens up opportunities for esports organizations to partner with academic institutions and sponsor collegiate gaming events.
- Gaming Technology and Equipment
- The growth of collegiate esports and the need for high-performance gaming setups at tournaments like the Fiesta Bowl creates potential disruptions and innovations in gaming technology and equipment.
