Part of a convention center in Arlington was repurposed to build an esports stadium that opened last yeargetty images
A "growing number of real estate owners are turning to esports arcades, lounges and even stadiums, hoping to breathe fresh life into their malls, hotels and other properties," according to Esther Fung of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Real-estate developers are "remodeling convention centers by adding locker rooms, seating, broadcast studios, new fiber for high-speed connectivity and massive LED video walls." In some cases, developers are "spending tens of millions of dollars" on esports venues that "host videogame league tournaments." A subsidiary of Baltimore-based Cordish Co. and Comcast Corp is building a $50M venue that will house the OWL Philadelphia Fusion. City officials in Arlington, Texas, "repurposed part of a convention center" to build a $10M, 100,000-square-foot esports stadium that opened late last year." MGM Resorts Int'l "last year turned a former nightclub in its Luxor Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip into an esports arena." The $20M, 30,000-square-foot venue "includes a 50-foot LED wall." MGM is also "exploring other ways to host esports events in existing bars and lounges, not just in arenas and theaters." Allied Esports, which operates MGM's venue, said that it has been "courted by other commercial real estate landlords looking to draw foot traffic" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/30).
CHANGING THE GAME: Polygon co-Founder Russ Frushtick believes the Fortnite World Cup held last weekend at Arthur Ashe Stadium was "unlike any other sporting event in the world,” as it was “more about spectacle" going on around the actual competition. Frushtick, who attended the tournament, noted there are "all sorts of events happening in-between the matches." He said, "Sitting in the stands, it might not be nonstop action in terms of the games themselves, (but) they do make it an all-day event.” Frushtick noted “everyone is going to make their money” online and “you’ll make a little money in the stands selling tickets, but by-and-large, it’s a streaming platform” ("The Exchange," CNBC, 7/29).
TEENAGE DREAM: Sixteen-year-old Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf is making the TV rounds after winning the $3M prize at the Fortnite World Cup, appearing this morning on "Today" after making "The Tonight Show" last night. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie said Giersdorf's victory “vindicates any teenager who’s been told they spend too much time playing video games.” NBC’s Willie Geist noted he tells his kids, "Stop playing Fortnite." Geist: "What am I supposed to say now? He won three million bucks" (“Today,” NBC, 7/30). Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah said, "Video games used to be the consolation prize for not going to prom. But now, thanks to video games, nerds can buy the prom." The Fortnite World Cup results are "going to change everything, especially how parents run their homes." Parents now are "going to be dragging their kids inside the house." Noah: "No more playing with your friends and getting exercise! You need to be practicing your head shots, young man! This mortgage isn't going to pay for itself!" (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 7/29).
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