Collegiate esports have been rapidly growing since 2014 when universities started sponsoring their own varsity esports teams. Now, over 250 colleges have their own esports programs with esports athletes being offered full scholarships and even playing in their own venues on college campuses. With the popularity of esports only continuing to grow, it will be exciting to see how the esports landscape evolves in college athletics.
Here are seven predictions for the future of college esports:
#1: 75% of colleges and universities will have varsity esports teams
There are currently 247 schools that are a part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), which serves as the current governing body of college esports and consists of almost all varsity esports programs around the country. With the way esports are continuing to develop, it is obvious that more schools will be adding varsity esports programs in the coming years. With more teams and more roster spots available, the popularity of esports will continue to rise until almost every school in the country has its own varsity esports team.
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#2: All varsity esports programs will have their own venue on campus
If schools are serious about esports to the point where they are willing to create their own varsity program, it is crucial that the program has its own specific venue. Known as arenas in the esports sphere, these are areas with gaming chairs and computers or consoles that allow esports athletes to perfect their craft together. These arenas also have incredibly fast internet speeds so that athletes can practice and compete without difficulty.
Some schools, like UC Irvine, have already gone above and beyond to build these venues for its esports athletes, having built a 3,500 square foot facility for its program. Other schools are converting old classrooms and empty spaces into makeshift esports arenas. As a result, it is clear that all varsity esports programs will have their own arena in the future in order to remain competitive.
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#3: Esports scholarships will surpass $25 million
In the 2018-2019 school year, varsity esports athletes were awarded over $16 million in scholarships from their schools. Collegiate esports had only been around for about five years. Now, with collegiate esports approaching its 10 year mark, and the number of teams continuing to grow exponentially, it would not come as a shock to see esport scholarship dollars surpass the $25 million mark.
#4: Esports will become a part of the NCAA
In 2019, the NCAA voted on whether or not it would add esports to its repertoire of sports that it governs. In a unanimous decision, it was determined that it would not, citing worries about the violent content and male-dominated field of athletes. However, the esports industry was valued at $1.22 billion in 2021, showcasing the clear demand for esports around the world. With this in mind, the NCAA may decide to go back on their decision in an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the industry. Can you imagine a bracket style tournament like March Madness, but for esports?
#5: Esports athletes will be big players in the NIL space
A big part of professional esports is the sponsorship of athletes. Similar to golf, esports athletes will wear logos and use certain gear based on contracts they have with brands. These deals can reach six or seven figures and are with some of the world's biggest brands, such as Red Bull and Intel. Because esports are not yet governed by the NCAA, there aren't any restrictions on the deals that esports athletes can make. If the NCAA chooses to oversee esports in the future, though, esports athletes could definitely become some major earners when it comes to NIL deals.
#6: College esports will have a broadcast deal with Twitch
Some of the most lucrative contracts in sports have to do with what network or service will broadcast live competitions. As esports continues to grow, the demand to watch the best collegiate esports athletes will as well. Because Twitch is already one of the leaders in streaming esports, it makes perfect sense for the company to strike a deal with NACE (or the NCAA if it begins to govern esports) to broadcast live events and tournaments. While this deal may not be for as much as other broadcast deals for more popular college sports, the value of esports' broadcasting rights will rise as esports continues to grow.
#7: Schools will begin to have more women on their esports teams or create all-women's teams
While there are not many female esports athletes at the collegiate or professional levels, about half of all gamers around the world are women. Therefore, as college esports continues to grow, there will naturally be more involvement from women, whether it be competing alongside men or having their own women's teams. Just like how schools have both men's and women's basketball, schools could soon have men's and women's esports.
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* Originally published on April 25, 2023, by Owen Roche
