Community
Community is at the heart of any successful esports program. Gaming and esports can’t be limited to just those students who are competing, it must be an encouraging environment that engages the entire campus. The vast majority of college kids are gamers in some capacity, and most of them will not be in your competitive program. Finding ways to actively engage this group is critical to the long-term success of your school in a changing educational landscape. Esports is all about competition, but it needs community and fan support!
Results
Your school’s program needs to drive results. Better placements, better grades, better student outcomes, better retention, more winning. These things take time and cost money. Don’t draft a 5-year plan planning on massive sponsorships in year 2, use a business plan that works. Understand the various revenue streams a program can create, how to fundraise, and how to best maximize your chances at a sustainable program to build your school are critical for success.
Transformation
Gaming and esports are a great way to introduce a fresh new perspective to your college. Transform a space, introduce new technologies, better prepare your students for the future. Esports is a springboard in a modernizing your campus and integrating new technologies that will help define the future workforce. If your goal is to create workforce ready students, you need technologies like VR, AR, Drones, Mechatronics and Robotics tied into your programs.