Let The Good Times Roll: E-Sports Revenue Expected To Surpass $1.5B By '20

E-sports revenue is projected to reach $696M this year, while the e-sports economy as a whole is "expected to eclipse" $1.5B by '20 "behind growth in brand investment," according to Jacob Wolf of ESPN.com. Citing a report from e-sports marketing analytics firm Newzoo, Wolf noted brand investment "accounted for nearly three-quarters of revenue in the esports economy this past year," which grew by 41.3%. North America has the largest e-sports market revenue share with $257M expected in '17. That number is "projected to more than double" to $607M by '20, "largely behind sponsorships." Meanwhile, e-sports viewership is expected to reach 385 million unique viewers in '17, and "nearly half of those viewers identify as enthusiasts." Wolf noted over the past year, several "large brands" have pushed into the e-sports market, including Bud Light, Red Bull, Monster and Axe. Adidas also recently entered its first e-sports partnership (ESPN.com, 2/14).