ATLANTA — Esports has been good for Georgia.
“State-wide it just hit $750 million,” says Dan Corso of the Atlanta Sports Council. "It’s a lot of money coming in ... It’s not just events and visitation from those events, but it’s the companies that are focused on esports.”
But Georgia has also been good for esports.
“Georgia is one of the first states to adopt video games as a varsity sport,” says Todd Harris, Founder and CEO of Skillshot Media. “We’ve got Georgia State competing in the college championship in the game Smite, made by hometown publisher, Hi-Res studios. So when you have publishers, universities, high schools - all of this talent - that can be the start of a really thriving echosystem.”
That kind of relationship between gaming companies and Georgia gamers is the reason Atlanta ranks as one of the top cities in the country for gamers. And it’s a big reason why DreamHack is coming back to Atlanta for a third straight year to host their three-day event.
This year, the Atlanta E-Sports Alliance is expecting over 30,000 gamers to attend.
“We have the infrastructure for traditional sports. We have the world’s busiest airport. We have the best sporting venues in the country. We have a campus downtown that is really confined and very walkable surrounded by 12,000 hotel rooms," Corso explains. "For traditional sports, that’s a great formula. You use those same assets for an E-Sports event.”
And it won’t just be amateur gamers walking around DreamHack Atlanta. Pro gamers, competing for big time prize money, will also be there.
“The gaming events in the world sell out Staples Center, they sell out Madison Square Garden,” Harris said. “I got to go to the World Finals for the game Frotnite. It was Arthur Ashe Stadium - 10,000 people - it’s where the U.S. Open is played. Sixteen-year old kid wins $3 million bucks. It was amazing. The only thing that would have made it better is if it was here. In the home town.”
Check out 11Alive's complete guide for DreamHack.