8 Reasons Why eSports Will Redefine College Athletics

Once upon a time, eSports seemed like a pipe dream. Who would tune in to watch other people play video games?

As it turns out, the answer is “thousands and thousands of people.” The desire to watch others play games has put apps like Twitch on the map. And emerging technology like Google Stadia is designed to make streaming gaming sessions easier.

Now, various colleges and universities have adopted varsity eSports programs. They hope eSports will be a way for educational institutions and students alike to reap some serious profits.

That gamble is about to pay off. And that’s because eSports are going to completely redefine college athletics around the world.

New Athletics Programs

While it’s in the spotlight now, offering varsity eSports competitions is not all that new. Many universities have been doing this for years. However, once eSports became a billion-dollar industry, more and more places of higher education wanted to get in on the action.

These universities have peeked into the future and realized a simple truth: gaming and gaming competitions are a great way to expand their brand and generate additional profits. And it’s a chance for smaller schools without much of a professional athletics program to help put themselves on the map.

High School to College Transition

At the end of the day, a college is a business like any other. Colleges generate profits by enrolling more students each year. Therefore, these schools must constantly focus on innovative ways of bringing in additional students.

Esports competitions and even majors (more on this in a minute) are a great boost to enrollment because over 100 high schools now have regular eSports programs. Towns all across America now have sports that extend to consoles and screens and not just fields and courts.

By offering academic majors and competitions focused on eSports, these universities are looking to seriously boost their enrollment. And if the growing number of eSports high schools are any indication, college athletics programs around the country will be focusing on Fortnite as much as they focus on football.