RIYADH: Traditional sports and esports are converging, with new technologies enhancing fan engagement in both arenas, the second day of the Next Generation Sports Conference in Riyadh was told.
A panel discussion, titled “Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Sports and Esports,” examined how these two realms are influencing each other, and what the future holds for their convergence.
The panel featured Andrew Chen, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz; Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer of Fox Sports; Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation; Michael Metzger, managing partner of Drake Star; and Peter Hutton, board director at the Saudi Pro League.
It kicked off with a look at the historical evolution of traditional sports media, and how digital technologies have transformed traditional sports, from the early days of radio broadcasts to today’s sophisticated streaming services. In parallel, esports have seen meteoric growth, with live-streaming platforms and social media playing a pivotal role in its rise.
Chen set the stage by addressing the financial dynamics reshaping the esports sector. He highlighted a significant transformation in funding patterns, where the world is witnessing a pivotal shift from investing heavily in esports teams to focusing on broader components such as game studios and creator tools.
This change, he said, comes in response to the challenges faced by team-based investments and the increasing importance of new technologies like AI and VR in enhancing fan engagement.
Shanks provided a glimpse into how traditional sports broadcasting is evolving to integrate esports elements. He stressed the importance of blending esports aesthetics with traditional sports coverage.
He also discussed the challenge of creating a “connective tissue” that links traditional sports fandom with esports. He said that the goal is to forge a deeper, more personal connection for fans through virtual reality and other immersive technologies, bridging the gap between physical and digital experiences.
Meanwhile, Metzger addressed the shifting investment landscape in gaming and esports. He noted a reduction in valuations and deal flow following the COVID-19 pandemic, but highlighted the current resurgence in investment activity. He pointed to an increase in funding for early-stage companies and esports infrastructure, as well as significant investments from local athletes and international tech giants.
Metzger added that with a growing interest in VR and AI, and recent high-profile IPOs, the future looks promising for investors in this space.
Speakers also discussed the impact of technology on enhancing competitiveness and fan engagement in sports. They stressed the importance of learning from esports to improve traditional sports’ appeal, adding that esports teaches how to create multiple narrative perspectives and interactive experiences, which are essential for engaging today’s younger audiences.
Innovations like customizable VR experiences and real-time stats integration were praised by the panel for offering fans a more personalized viewing experience. They argued that these technologies could be adapted to traditional sports to create a more dynamic and engaging spectator experience.
The panel concluded with a discussion on how traditional sports can learn from esports in terms of fan engagement and content delivery, with bin Homran highlighting the potential for integrating in-game customizations and real-time highlights to attract younger audiences. He stressed the importance of creating engaging, interactive experiences that cater to the digital-native generation.
“I think the integration of the in-game customizations is really important. I think one of the most important things that esports fans love to customize things in their games. They like to have a specific skin. They like to have a specific NBA item that they love to be recognized with,” he said.
He added: “At this moment, we have a lot of sports figures that are involved more in esports, like Neymar, or the other athletes that are investing more in esports, and they are leading the traditional fans to all esports.”
