The rapidly growing esports industry will be the subject of a new study launched by the Essendon Football Club and RMIT.
Establishing Esports Value promises a unique insight into a networked media sports industry that is developing ”in front of our very eyes” according to lead researcher Dr Emma Witkowski.
The study will give the Essendon Football Club valuable insights into spectatorship and fandoms, and the state of the most prominent esports league (OPL). It will examine the key relationships between players, teams, fans, communities and platforms in the region.
Essendon Chief Commercial Officer Justin Rodski said limited research had been conducted on esports in Australia to date, and this study would allow them to improve esports knowledge and develop strategy, particularly around local audiences, player high performance, team best practice, fan engagement and brand development.
“The research will give us an important foundation to develop our five-year esports strategy underpinned by key recommendations for our esports team within the rapidly expanding local and international market,” he said.
“The better we can understand the dynamics of technologies, companies, players and supporters of this emerging sports category, the faster we will be able to maximise the opportunities and huge growth potential of esports in Australia.”
Dr Witkowski said esports were undergoing a period of rapid professionalisation in the region.
“The institutional interest in esports by traditional media, media sports and government has increased at a breakneck pace over the last 12 months,” she said.
“Globally, we are watching a networked media sports industry being made before our very eyes. With this project we can better understand how esports have undergone professionalisation in Australia as an institutionalised form of sports for video games."
This new study is one of a number of research opportunities that were identified when RMIT and Essendon Football Club announced a partnership in March, founded on a desire for cross-industry collaboration and a shared commitment to the community, innovation and enterprise.
An executive summary paper outlining the key themes and recommendations will be presented by Dr Witkowski at a dedicated esports summit in Melbourne on 16 November 2018.
The announcement of the esports research project follows the launch this week of RMIT’s new Women’s Football Academy, which will create education and development pathways for students and elite athletes and encourage greater participation in women’s football.
Essendon Football Club CEO Xavier Campbell said the club was committed to supporting women in football by creating genuine pathways, and greater development opportunities, both on and off-field.
“We are incredibly excited to support the RMIT Women’s Football Academy and look forward to working closely with our education partner to grow women’s football.”
