Gaming is becoming more popular – then brands can reach new marketing opportunities.
More and more companies are investing in e-sports. During the early years of e-sports, the sponsors were mainly companies related to video games or the overall computer and high-tech industry. A few years later, the audience watching e-sports changed.
E-sports audiences evolved from a circle of initiates to the public. E-sports events now gather both knowledgeable players, sports fans who cheer for the online version of their favorite team, as well as children and grandparents.
Event sponsorship is the best way for brand awareness!
As the audience grows, more companies have the opportunity to focus on their customers. Brands from various industries now sponsor e-sports, such as Coca-Cola, Gillette, Redbull, BMW, Nike and Louis Vuitton.
In 2019, the e-sports industry generated $ 1.1 billion in revenue, according to a Newzoo report. Of that amount, $ 456 million came from sponsorship transactions, an increase of 34.3% from the previous year.
Gaming and e-sports also generate a whole parallel economy. Video content, written guides and even entire e-sports schools open all over the world. Betting websites have also started betting on esports and recently MyBookie became the first sports book ever to offer bets on simulated sports.
Although event sponsorship is the best way for brand awareneess and social ROI, it usually requires a budget that some companies are not willing to spend on a single event. More viewers means more marketing goals for brands, which will continue to invest in a sector in full expansion.
