FIFA is Establishing a Group to Look Into Esports Investments
In a document released by FIFA on October 13, 2016, the global football association is creating a working group to consolidate strategies in entering eSports.
The document titled “Vision for the Future” outlined the growth of eSports and how the industry is attractive to biggest organization for football. The working group detailed key numbers and statistics that can help FIFA capture the attention of a younger demographic through “…mimic(ing) the production of global events on the pitch with enhanced production of virtual FIFA competitions.”
Further, FIFA is looking to investigates the benefits of expanding FIFA’s engagement into the eSports industry. The documen stated that by 2018, “…worldwide eSports video consumption is expected to reach 6.6 billion hours – a marked increase from 1 billion hours only six years ago.”
In 2016, several soccer teams have already purchased teams or sponsored individual talents in eSports. German soccer club FC Schalke 04 purchased EU LCS team Elements in May and hired Jacob “Maelk” Toft-Anderson to oversee the team.
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