Key Takeaways and Questions from the BRaVe-UCLA Esports Panel

It was a great evening of talking Overwatch League, esports media rights, and eating some Lamonica’s pizza (only the best for our guests) at UCLA Anderson last night. Special thanks to the Entertainment Management Association, the Sports Business Association, and AnderTech for hosting and sponsoring the event. There was a lot of good knowledge dropped by our panelists that we wanted to share with you all.

Key takeaway:

Esports is retracting temporarily because game publishers are becoming aware of the value that their IP brings.

Question:

As we see more consolidation in esports, are game publishers going to allow third-parties to continue innovating the space?

Key takeaway:

Blizzard is stepping up as a contender for being the premier esport.

Question:

Can there be a successful esport for kids?

Key takeaway:

Many esports entities have been focusing on shorter term deals but we’re going to start seeing some five, ten year deals as the ecosystem gets more stabilized.

Question:

What happens to esports when the first game publisher sells exclusive media rights to a distributor?

Key takeaway:

I define an esport as a game that has a spectator experience: you enjoy watching just as much as you enjoy playing.

Question:

What’s going to be the next non-obvious esport? Blitz Chess?