With huge audiences, heavy competition, and intense strategy, esports and “traditional” sports share significant overlap at first glance. However, management in esports vs. traditional sports often boils down to a whole different ball game. Read on as we outline the differences between the two.
Why Comparing Esports and Traditional Sports Management Matters
Whether you are more interested in the world of traditional sports or esports, taking some time to compare and contrast what management entails for each field may foster a better understanding of shared competitive/business foundations and evolving audience expectations.
How Both Industries Share Similar Competitive and Business Foundations
Like traditional sports, esports is highly competitive; players strive to emerge victorious in every match and go to great lengths to improve their skills. Both esports and traditional sports share similar business foundations, too, particularly in regard to driving revenue through sponsorship deals, partnerships, and branding.
Understanding Audience Expectations Across Generations
In comparing traditional vs. esports, it is also worth noting that esports highlights a fundamental shift in how younger generations consume content. The explosive popularity of esports (with virtual turnouts for some competitions reaching millions of people) signifies a generational demand for more interactive digital experiences over traditional sports broadcasts.
Audience Engagement: Digital Communities vs. Physical Fanbases
One of the most prominent ways in which esports management differs from traditional sports management is in its fan engagement efforts. Both rely on in-person attendance and team events to engage fans, however esports separate themselves with their digital communities. Through streaming platforms like Twitch, Kick, or YouTube esports creators may provide an almost constant stream of entertainment. This “always-on” nature of esports makes it more accessible to a global audience where fans may be in different regions of the world.
Team Structure and Athlete Management
Esports and traditional sports vary greatly in terms of team structure and athlete management strategy as well. Not only do esports teams tend to operate with smaller rosters, but they may also have fewer staff than a professional or collegiate sports program.
Meanwhile, skills development and training look quite different for an esports player vs. a traditional athlete. In addition to esports players engaging mostly in screen-based training and competitive environments, the career span of an esports player tends to be significantly shorter than that of a traditional athlete.
Event Structure and Competitive Formats
The very nature of traditional sporting events also differs considerably from esports tournaments or matches. While both tend to follow a seasonal format with regular competitions and playoffs/championships, esports events are less limited in their duration. Likewise, coordinating international play requires fewer resources and less money — making international competitions easier for managers to coordinate than in traditional sports.
Revenue Models and Monetization Differences
Monetization and revenue are core drivers of growth in both esports and traditional sports, but how leaders go about driving profits may differ from one format to the next. For instance, in esports, revenue may come largely from:
- Sponsorships and digital advertising
- In-game purchases
- Subscriptions and other virtual goods
In a traditional sporting event, on the other hand, a substantial portion of revenue may be generated through:
- Ticket sales
- Broadcasting contracts
- Merchandising
Technology’s Influence on Management Practices
In esports specifically, management teams must know how to leverage and adapt to innovative technologies in order to enhance player performance and maintain the integrity of online competitions.
Real-Time Data Analytics for Player Performance and Audience Metrics
Today, an extraordinary volume of data is generated and collected online every second. In the realm of esports, this data may be invaluable for coaches and management teams alike — especially for assessing player performance and tracking key audience metrics. Thus, esports managers benefit from becoming proficient in the data analysis tools used within the industry.
Streaming Partnerships and Platform Negotiations
Esports managers may also be responsible for securing partnership deals and agreements with various gaming or streaming platforms, so competence across these platforms and other related technologies could prove crucial.
Cybersecurity and Online Competition Integrity
Cyberattacks represent a persistent threat to the viability of esports competitions. Esports managers should remain up to speed on the latest cybersecurity technologies and tools used industry-wide to keep competitions secure and fair for everyone.
Career Pathways in Esports vs. Traditional Sports Management
For those considering a career in esports or traditional sports management, the following pathways may be worth considering and exploring:
Roles Unique to Esports: Shoutcasting, Game Strategy Analysts, Community Managers
Certain types of positions are unique to the esports realm. Some examples include:
- Shoutcasters – These commentators provide real-time analysis in competitive gaming environments.
- Strategy analysts – Data-driven experts study elements of gameplay, player performance, and competitor strategies.
- Community managers – These professionals are responsible for building and engaging fanbases through social media and special events.
Overlapping Roles: Marketing, Operations, Coaching, Event Production
Other important roles may exist in both esports and traditional sports. For example, equipment manager, brand/social media manager, head/assistant coach, and broadcast or technical director are titles that could exist within either field (depending on a team’s needs).
Transferable Skills for Professionals Moving Between Industries
No matter if your strengths may lie in traditional sports or esports, numerous transferable skills are beneficial to both disciplines. Strong leadership and management skills are critical in many roles, ranging from coaching and operations to operations and event production.
Likewise, solid written and verbal communication skills could go a long way in collaborating with others and ensuring that expectations and responsibilities are well understood. All of this, along with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to make critical decisions under pressure, could prove advantageous in esports or traditional sports management.
Challenges Unique to Esports Management
While working in esports management may present exciting opportunities, it may also accompany distinct obstacles.
Player Burnout and Mental Health Concerns
Player wellness is a prevalent concern in the esports realm. Although esports athletes might not face the same physical demands as traditional athletes, they may still undergo intense training that could lead to burnout and mental health challenges over time. As a result, esports managers have a responsibility to prioritize player wellness in their everyday work.
Rapid Shifts in Game Popularity and Competitive Meta
The esports industry continues to grow, and it is not uncommon for different areas of the field to see considerable shifts in popularity and growth. Esports managers, then, are under a great deal of pressure to keep organizations relevant and profitable under constantly evolving circumstances.
Evolving Regulations and the Need for Industry Standardization
Relatively speaking, the esports industry is still in its early phases of formation , and universal rules and standardized regulations are imperative to ensure fair play. In the meantime, esports managers may struggle with inconsistent regulations and areas of legal ambiguity.
Two Industries, Two Models — Both Built on Strategy and Skill
Despite their shared competitive and strategic nature, esports and traditional sports remain two separate and distinct industries with different models for audience engagement, athlete management, and event structure. With a firmer grasp of these key differences and how they may translate into management roles, you may be better able to decide which path best suits your unique interests and strengths.
Discover More in a Gaming and Esports Management Program
As the popularity of esports continues to grow, players and organizations turn to knowledgeable esports managers to elevate their competition. Want to be part of the action? At Post University, our Bachelor of Science in Gaming and Esports Management is a degree program that allows students to explore career-focused coursework in relevant topics such as:
- Broadcasting
- Competitive play
- Leadership
- International market dynamics
- Ethics and psychology of gaming
At the same time, learners have the opportunity to develop professional communication skills while gaining better insight into the complex issues unique to the gaming/esports industry today. Two concentrations (Entrepreneurship or Event Planning and Management) are available. Plus, because this program is offered both on campus and online, you have the freedom to choose the learning format that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Learn more about our bachelor’s degree in gaming and esports management by getting in touch with the Post University team or getting started with your online application for admission today.
