What 2017 holds for esports

Mainstream sports are finally recognizing the untapped potential in video games as spectator sports. Three NBA team owners recently bought stakes in esports teams, and other investors are clamoring to invest as the industry is soaring. With this growth comes a slew of questions on how to best manage revenue and growth, in an industry already valued at nearly $500 million.

Leveling up

Sponsors and advertisers eager to monetize massive viewership numbers are propelling the growth of esports. According to market research firm Newzoo, the global esports audience was 226 million in 2015, indicating a year over year growth of 27.7 percent.  As professional gaming teams have grown in popularity, the number of unique users playing the multiplayer online battle arena strategy game League of Legends has gone from 11.5 million in 2011 to 100 million in 2016.