Are esports the way forward for Myrtle Seaside tourism?

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach is already causing a stir in the esports world – before it even launched an initiative.

“There are already people who come to us to host events here, which is great,” said Jonathan Paris, director of sports tourism for Visit Myrtle Beach.

The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce planned a feasibility study on esports tourism last year, but it was postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic. The study is listed as one of the chamber’s priorities in its 2021 annual plan.

Esports has quickly become the newest major sector in the sports industry, with teams and competitive tracks for games like Rocket League, League of Legends and Fortnite. Cities like Darlington have added esports to their list of recreational programs, colleges have given scholarships around the games, and more schools have added esports clubs to their campuses.

Attracting competitions could be lucrative for Grand Strand both from physical viewers and from hosting by hosting events on popular streaming platforms like Twitch. The 2017 League of Legends World Cup – an often-cited example of the colossal sports draw – had more than 80 million viewers, and in 2014 the social experiment Twitch Plays Pokemon had more than a million people commanding a number of people Enter crowdsourced funding for several weeks in an attempt to beat the game.

“I think it surprises a lot of people because it’s not just video games and someone sitting at home playing games,” said Paris.

He said the sport is a popular way to boost tourism. The area could also be made visible through the hosting of events through an online presence.

“I think that’s our goal in sport,” said Paris. “Let’s find our niche in this world and I think we want to attract visitors as clearly as possible.”

It’s one of the hottest topics he’s heard at events and conferences. Paris points to Las Vegas and Daytona Beach as areas that have become esports destinations. Arlington, Texas has its own esports stadium for 2,500 spectators. Raleigh – the home of developer Epic Games who created the hugely popular Fortnite – has also become a gaming location.

According to Paris, Myrtle Beach is already well established on the sports scene and the facilities are booked for most of the year.

Myrtle Beach’s efforts begin with the Feasibility Study, which will provide a general view of the local esports landscape, the nature of events in the area, the potential economic impact, and a review of the facilities where events could be held. Competitions can be held in ballrooms, a convention center, or in cinemas with the correct bandwidth. Paris said the next step will be to draw up an action plan and then quickly implement it.