Knowledge esports Xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx

1 Billion dollar baby A permanent esports venue in the heart of ? Someone’s onto a winner

as Vegas might be famous for its largely to , the ‘second publishers from across the competitive- L‘gaming’, but there the term has a Strip’. A buzzing hub of entertainment, gaming spectrum. “We’re game-agnostic very different meaning. Its connection to 15-million tourists visit Fremont Street each and plan to collaborate with as many videogames has so far been limited to year to take in its hotels, casinos and publishers as possible,” he says. the Evolution Championship Series, an clubs, and to shop in the 50,000 square- “Exposure from tournament broadcasts annual fighting-game event, and the foot mall, Neonopolis. and in-person spectators will drive growth occasional Halo tournament. That, It’s inside Neonopolis that Millennial and total reach for the company.” This in though, is about to change: a permanent Esports’ new venue is under construction, turn, he hopes, should provide incentive esports venue, owned by Millennial and it’s hard to imagine a better location. for partners and gaming enthusiasts to Esports, is soon to throw open its doors. “Neonopolis is a great venue and is both visit the venue and work with Having recently formed through the smack dab in the middle of downtown,” Millennial Esports. merger of digital esports company Pro Igelman says. “It truly is a hidden gem.” Echoes of Millennial Esports’s Gaming League and financial firm Occupying 15,000ft on the third floor, in developments in Vegas can be seen Xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Stratton Corp, Millennial Esports had its a space that was previously a cinema, around the world. With revenue from xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx choices when it came to selecting a the venue will be cut in half to create two esports estimated to grow to $1.1 billion xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx all Bets location for its first venue. But as CEO distinct, but connected, spaces. “The first by 2019, events and tournaments are on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Alex Igelman From top Millennial are off tells us: “Las Vegas was a is an area to facilitate large LAN the rise the world over as companies vie Will Vegas’s relaxed Esports CEO Alex no-brainer. Vegas is the entertainment tournament play and viewing parties and for a slice of the action. But to date, most 2 gambling laws mean Igelman and betting at matches? capital of the world and it will house our interactive company president events have taken place in venues esports is the entertainment experiences,” says Chad Larsson designed for other sports: Toronto’s Air of the 21st century.” “Vegas is the Igelman. “The second is Canada Centre, for instance, traditionally Igelman hopes that entertainment the arena, where the home to ice hockey and basketball, Millennial Esports’ new arena-play and event finals hosted more than 15,000 fans for the venue will make it the first capital of the world will take place.” League Of Legends North America finals company to bring esports in August. Esports, however, offers unique and esports is the Walk through the crowd and Vegas together in a Inside, you’ll find the challenges and is both requiring and at the Evo fighting-game meaningful way. entertainment of conventional seats and deserving of dedicated venues. That, in a tournament and you Picking a location the 21st century” stage of any other venue, nutshell, is what Millennial Esports is all quickly realise it isn’t only within Vegas, you’d have but there’ll also be top-of- about: providing a dedicated space to held in Las Vegas for the size of its venues. Yet thought the Strip would be the-line broadcast and cater for all of esports’ needs. Igelman downplays any the first place on the list. Home to production equipment. That’s because it’s Igelman estimates that similar venues suggestion gambling was mammoth casino resorts such as the intended to be not just an arena, but a will become commonplace. “As esports a factor in Millennial’s decision to set up shop in Bellagio, the Mirage and Caesar’s studio too. “It will operate as an esports moves more into the mainstream, it only Vegas. “We don’t intend Palace, it’s 4.2 miles of neon-studded hub and interactive venue with the ability makes sense that venues are built that can to apply for a gaming razzmatazz. NASA has declared it the to host and broadcast videogame accommodate amateur and professional licence or offer any brightest place on Earth. Surely it’s the tournament campaigns hosted by competitive game play and act as a gambling in our venue,” 4 he says. “But there are dream location? But Igelman says, “The Millennial Esports, game publishers and meeting spot for like-minded people.” plenty of licensed gaming Strip was never a consideration for us, as partners,” company president Chad Vegas is the logical place to start. If companies in Las Vegas we wanted to launch where the action Larsson tells us. Millennial’s plan comes off, this could be that could offer gambling on esports,” he continues. was.” That ‘action’ is now in downtown. The venue is already set to host the a landmark moment in the development “It will only be a matter Once considered a no-go area, North American finals of the Halo of esports, the moment where competitive of time for the downtown Vegas has evolved through Championship Series Open Circuit when games stepped out of borrowed stadia Gaming Commission to more than 20 years of investment and it opens in November. Thereafter, Larsson and into a neon-flecked home of its own. approve and regulate Xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx esports wagering, as renovation. So much so that it’s now is bullish about growth and hopes to work Uncommonly for Las Vegas, it seems like xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx3 well as, potentially, Vegas’s trendiest destination, thanks with a variety of developers and a safe bet. n xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx skill‑based gambling.”

12 13