Madison will host the inaugural Wisconsin Games Alliance ESports Tournament featuring the Rocket League on Friday, Nov. 4, at the Alliant Energy Center, according to a release from the Wisconsin Games Alliance. Teams of two will compete for $2,500 in cash prizes in an event running parallel to the annual M+DEV Conference, which brings together top national video game developers, including Madison’s game developers PUBG, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard. The tournament will give players the chance to compete against each other in an “in-person, competitive, but chill environment,” according to the release.
The market for competitive esports is growing rapidly. Gaming influencers are the most popular type of influencer, with almost a quarter (23%) of all adults in this demographic segment following gaming personalities. The global esports audience reportedly has grown to $474 million, with about half watching professional esports more than once a month and trending up 8.7% year over year.
