One of the most gambled on events in the world and the most in the United States, the Superbowl is getting some esports love with Friday 2nd. EA Sports Bowl.
Called the “EA Sports Bowl,” pro athletes will have to put their digital dexterity to the text playing video games of the same sports that they have made millions playing in real life.
Senior marketing director for EA Sports Randy Chase talks up the competition as more of an “event” than full-on gamble-worthy brawl.
“The EA SPORTS party is always one of the hottest tickets in town during Super Bowl week and this year is one of our best shows ever,” Chase was quoted to say. “This year has an amazing lineup of athletes and musical talent, and Club Nomadic is going to be one of the greatest venues we’ve ever had. The EA SPORTS Bowl will kick-off three-nights of unmatched entertainment from the world’s most popular artists, making Club Nomadic the hottest ticket and venue in town the week of January 30.”
Many were predicting sports-based-esports becoming bigger and bigger in the competitive gaming arena, but this vertical integration combining the actual athletes and sports event with the esport is something no one was expecting so soon.
The “eGames” are scheduled to run alongside the regular Olympics, but the EA Sports Bowl is much different than merely a simultaneous event. Similarly, TBS has begun airing major esports competitions live in deference to the growing market that marketers are beginning to realize has a community of real dedicated fans eager for real competitions. Esports are no longer just a novelty gimmick for a Will Ferrell movie.
The two games for this event are Madden NFL 17 and Fifa 17, and for this one night, Houston will be the esports capital of the world.
Maybe for a CS:GO tournament Bruno Mars will consider singing one of his hits. Having the celebrity sing I would catch a grenade for you would take on an entirely different meaning in the FPS arena.
With EA and other sports franchises promoting their digital wares as a competitive forum, one can only hope this is a step towards athletes being as interest in being a dual threat in both versions of their favorite sport. If so, and you continue to see athletes hawking the esports version of their game as an actual fan and competitor, then you can expect sports-based esports to be among other titles predicted to be huge this year.
