An Invercargill esport founder believes the latest tournament to be held in May, may be New Zealand’s biggest yet for the burgeoning industry.
Your Corps founder James Wards believes esport tournaments such as these could both reinvigorate Invercargill’s youth and place the city front and centre in the burgeoning industry.
On May 7, Your Corps is set to host the yrless+ Southern Rocket Masters, at ILT Stadium Southland.
Esport is defined as a multiplayer video game played competitively.
It’s the second time the organisation, which runs regular multiplayer video game events for youths in Invercargill, Balclutha, Dunedin and Gore and Cromwell, has hosted an e-tournament.
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The first, which took place in February last year, saw more than 160 competitors, watched by hundreds of spectators, compete in a Fortnite battle across two days.
This event will be about three times the size of that, Wards said.
“I’ve seen some news agencies describe Invercargill as the bleakest place in New Zealand for youth. So to go from that, to be able to offer more opportunities for youth in esports than anywhere else in the country, it’s huge,” Wards said.
Wards said under the red light setting, given the stadium’s size, competitors could be spread out across different areas of the venue to conform with the 100-person cap.
The global esports industry has been growing at a rapid pace.
In its Global Esports and Live Streaming Market Report 2021, Newzoo estimated global e-sports revenues would grow to $1.084 billion by the end of 2021.
Wards believed that by tapping into the industry in New Zealand early, Southland could become a leading location for the countries esport tournaments.
It’s a view backed up by ILT Stadium Southland general manager Nigel Skelt, who felt esports offered “massive potential” for the stadium.
“Our [he and Wards] combined dream is to hold a national’s tournament here across one or two of the velodromes,” he said.
The tournament would be open to all intermediate or senior high school students aged 10 to 18 and entry was free, with a prize package of $5000 up for grabs, Wards said.
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