CANNES – More than 300 delegates from 40 countries came together at Esports BAR Cannes (February 12-14), the leading networking, knowledge-sharing and business event for companies operating in the international esports ecosystem. And over the three-day event, much attention was focused on how to reach out to non-endemic audiences.
Participants once again welcomed the guaranteed one-to-one business meeting format which was unveiled at the first edition of Esports BAR 2017 and which this year saw 128 companies involved and a total of 1,100 meetings take place.
Over three days, Esports BAR provided an international business platform for the expanding esports ecosystem, both endemic and non-endemic, with delegates representing leagues, tournaments, teams, publishers, media and brands among other sectors.
In addition, the inaugural Esports BAR Game Shakers, celebrated at a gala dinner February 13, recognised individuals and companies that have contributed to taking esports beyond its endemic fan base.
As part of its remit to provide a platform for discussions on the future development of the sector, Esports BAR hosted closed-door discussions between esports leaders, politicians and regulators from France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Among the subjects raised were how regulators can support esports; what can be done to help tournament organisers and players and how to increase the role of women in esports.
After its February 2017 launch, the 2018 edition of Esports BAR added a complete conference programme which saw major players associated with esports take to the stage including ESL, EA, Activision Blizzard, Fnatic, Bundesliga, Turner Sports, Nielsen, Newzoo, Team Vitality, Webedia and GINX.
With Esports BAR choosing ‘Esports Comes of Age: A Battleplan for Mainstream Reach’ as its central theme, speaker after speaker focused on how esports is reaching out to non-endemic audiences and in the process attracting new sponsors, new brands and new groups.
Among the major global brands entering the esports ecosystem, giant automobile group Renault, a leader in motorsports, particularly Formula 1, chose Esports BAR to announce that it is partnering with France’s Team Vitality to launch Renault Sport-Team Vitality. The new team will take part in esports motor racing competitions starting with Rocket League. Renault Sport-Team Vitality has recruited three stars of esports to represent the team, Germans Philip «Paschy90» Paschmeyer and Sandro «FreaKii» Holzwarth, and France’s Victor «Fairy Peak» Locquet.
The next edition of Esports BAR will take place in Miami, September 24-26, 2018.
