Disney Considers Hosting eSports at The ESPN Wide World of Sports

Disney seems to have taken an interest in eSports, and is now considering hosting events at their ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.   The complex has been around for 20 years with 220 acres of land housing 10 tennis courts, a ball park and a track and field complex, and each year it is host to multiple sporting events, including a cheerleading competition. Recently, Faron Kelley, Disney World’s Vice President of Sports said:

It is exciting because it isn’t just cheer, it’s basketball, it’s volleyball, it’s eSports with gaming. We are absolutely looking at eSports and it’s a wonderful venue for that.  We are trying to keep up with what sports are breaking and how we can be involved in them … Esports is a big one we are looking at and are very excited about it.

This really isn’t surprising because a lot of larger corporations are sponsoring eSporting teams and events and recently Disney XD has aired some eSport events, including the 2017 Finals for EVO, 2017.  My kids have watched.  Gaming is big business.  Venture Beat reported that the current international gaming revenue is about 108.9 billion and is expected to grow to 128.5 billion in 2020 according to market research done by Newzoo.    It’s definitely a “growth industry.”

In the beginning of 2018, Disney plans on opening a new area to the arena with 8,000 seats and  300,000 square feet of space, that was to be used for the larger cheerleading competition, but now it could also be used for eSporting events.  It would be incredible if they would run eSports events from Walt Disney World.  I know a lot of potential guests would like to catch the event live while on vacation.  My kids sure would.

What do you think?  Comment and let us know.

Sources:  Forbes and Rolling Stone