Collegiate Esports Grows Rapidly as PSA Prepares
Premier Sports Academy, is the home to several collegiate training programs including the recent addition of several esports teams. PSA has already expanded into several popular titles to help high school-aged athletes achieve their goals. However, PSA anticipates that esports will continue to grow in the next five to ten years at an unyielding rate. “10-12 years ago there were some local LAN events to play Halo or Call of Duty…Like internet cafes, these were places I could compete at, and sometimes walk away with lunch money. Today, franchises are looking to dominate local markets and let the community know they’re the team to root for” said Matthew “Burns” Potthoff.
Burns has 13 years of experience in the professional Call of Duty scene, including a World Championship with eUnited. He currently serves as the director of Gaming and Esports at PIVOT Agency, and has been collaborating with Premier Sports Academy.
As esports culture continues to evolve, most colleges and high schools have begun creating programs to accommodate the growing interest among students. The first steps are often to designate practice facilities and rooms to the teams and their players. PSA has taken these steps as well, hoping to focus more on the community of people who make the experience meaningful. Matthew Burns said, “Getting people to play from the same region brings something different to the table. Sure you can meet a lot of people online, but it’s good to meet other gamers in the same region–someone to grab a slice of pizza with, or potentially call the best man at a wedding”. Burns emphasized that as esports makes its footprint in major cities across the United States, holding onto the core values that video games first brought to players’ hearts is vital to its success in the long run.
When asked to compare esports to other high profile college sports, Burns said that he believed it would take a more traditional approach in regards to becoming pro. “Many young people will skip college and go pro just like traditional sports. But I think it will normalize getting a degree and using esports as a way to create opportunities”, he said. PSA prepares their athletes for this reality by building a holistic program that focuses on developing an individual’s strengths and weaknesses beyond the time spent wearing a PSA jersey.
Burns further explained some caveats of the industry, noting that corporations and fans alike will grow to understand the decisions that make a healthier ecosystem for everyone. He said, “Esports in general is not going away. Gaming is being consumed and more popular than ever, but the business model is going to be flushed out.” As the industry shifts into place, PSA is an organization dedicated to innovating the world of gaming and moving towards a better future with our athletes.