Do you love video games?

Did you know that you can make a career out of that passion? You may want to consider studying esports management!

Electronic sports (esports) is the job market’s term for the world of competitive gaming. And yes, you can actually study this in college.

Maybe you’ve always thought of video games as fun. Nothing to do with work or your future career. But there’s actually a huge business around video games.

And you’ll learn all about it when you study esports management.

Esports: Sports for Gamers

Everyone knows a little something about the business of sports. Esports is just like traditional sports in a lot of ways.

If you’re serious about gaming, here’s how you can make a career out of it that can be just as fulfilling and lucrative as careers in traditional sports.

COMPETITION

Want to coach a team?

Just like traditional athletes, esports players (often referred to as “athletes,” too) and teams make money through sponsorships.

The types of companies that pay to have their brand associated with competitive gamers are the same categories that sponsor other kinds of sporting events:

• Automotive companies (like Audi)
• Beverage brands (like Coca-Cola and Red Bull)
• Mobile service providers (like T-Mobile)
• Motor oil brands (like Mobil)

Players earn money in other ways, too, such as from prize money for winning competitions. (Most of this is typically funded by sponsors, too.)

Coaching these teams is a type of esports management. If you’re interested in this, this field of study will help you master the skills to create strategies and steer an esports team to victory!

PUBLISHING

Want to share competitive video games with the world?

In the sports world, leagues like the NFL (National Football League) set the rules, promote the game, and make money on deals to broadcast matches.

In the esports world, publishers do many of the same things. As creators of competitive MMO (massive multiplayer online) games—Counter-Strike, StarCraft, Dota, etc.—they set the rules and promote the games.

You can focus on this part of the business when you study esports management if you’re interested in it. You’ll learn all the ins and outs of competitive video game publishing, such as:

• Investing in creators
• Managing development
• Marketing games
• Much more!

CONVENTION PLANNING

Like to throw epic gaming parties?

Just like promoters in traditional sports, esports convention planners are responsible for putting live events together. They’re the ones that get to throw the party.

This is often just like any other sport. Though esports events can and do happen online (there’s probably one on Twitch right now), many are staged at physical locations like arenas with in-person spectators.

When you study esports management, you learn what’s involved in arranging these events, like booking the venue, accommodating teams, selling tickets, and everything else involved with throwing the party!

CREATING

Do you want to make new games?

Okay, this is one area that doesn’t have much to do with traditional sports.

True, somebody had to invent the American version of football. As the story goes, it was a guy in 1880 who decided to pick up a soccer ball during a match and run with it.

Creating a video game is obviously a little more complicated! Those who study esports management learn about what it takes to direct a creative team in the development of new competitive video games:

• Artwork
• Story
• Animation
• Sound
• Programming
• Other specialty areas

If you’re interested in this, your study of esports management should focus heavily on the management part. Great managers who understand esports know how to oversee the development of great games!

Study Esports Management at Bethany College

At Bethany College, you don’t have to set your love of gaming aside to focus on your education. When you select our Esport Gaming Management, it can be a part of pursuing the perfect career for you!

The Esport Gaming Management minor offers courses in all the essentials, like:

• Advertising
• Business Administration
• Convention Planning
• Game Development
• Game Distribution
• Public Relations

And it’s great for pairing with majors in related areas you might be interested in focusing on, such as:

• Accounting
• Communication & Media Arts
• Computer Science
• Economics
• English
• Finance
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Or whatever you’re into!

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to make a career out of your passions with a minor in esports management! Learn more about Bethany’s Esport Gaming Management degree right here.