Could Las Vegas become the next esports hub?

William Davis Published 27/11/2021

Las Vegas enjoys a reputation for being one of the best places for entertainment on the planet. Beyond just the iconic Strip or the casinos, it also has hosted some of the most famous sporting events of all time. From Mike Tyson biting off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear off in their rematch to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar breaking the all-time NBA scoring record, the city is synonymous with incredible sporting moments.

Because of this, Las Vegas should be an obvious choice to become the home of esports in the US. In fact, it is already the unofficial home of esports, with the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor Hotel. This venue has hosted many events since opening in 2018 and could see plenty more as live events continue to return to the world. The HyperX Esports Arena is a 30,000-square-foot, state of the art venue equipped to bring the best of live esports action to people.

Vegas is known for its famous Strip, described by Gala Casino as being home to some of the largest casinos and hotels in the world, so positioning this massive esports facility in the area is sure to give the industry a boost. They already have a local esports team, the Las Vegas Inferno, which competes in Rocket League, Fortnite, Halo, and Super Smash Bros., and has faced off against other teams across the world.

Beyond the esports infrastructure that is already in place and its long history of hosting sporting events of every size and shape, Las Vegas is already a tourist destination on par with any other city in the world. People from all over the US and beyond travel to Las Vegas to take in a show, try their luck at the city’s famous casinos, and to try some of the best restaurants on the planet. This is a city already teeming with activity from people who play video games, many of which will be interested in what esports the city can offer.

The esports industry is growing every year. From its simple beginnings, it has grown to take in billions of dollars every year, with the top contenders in the field becoming household names in their own right.

The casinos of Las Vegas know a trend when they see one and have the money and resources to make good on the potential of the industry. Video games are no longer just the toys they were in the 80s and 90s. More than 40 years since video games burst onto the pop-culture scene, they are as mainstream as they have ever been and will only continue to gain momentum. And with the new Arcane animated series blowing up on Netflix, esports games are becoming more and more identifiable.

With their fantastic venues and the local community already able to support an esports team, Las Vegas looks poised to capitalize on the inevitable growth in the industry. As live events return post-pandemic, look for more tournaments to be held in the history city and for the scene to continue to grow.

William Davis

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