That's how Johanna Faries, a vice president at gaming company Activision Blizzard and commissioner of Call of Duty League, described the environment at the Call of Duty playoffs and other major esports events on Cheddar's Business of Sports special on Thursday. While the coronavirus pandemic has put a damper on this sort of in-person experience, Faries noted that the industry's growth in 2020 has been a bright spot.
"It's been amazing how much new attention and fandom there has been in light of a very challenging year," she said.
The increased attention has also paid dividends on Wall Street. Activision Blizzard's stock was trading at close to 2020 highs, closing at $83.11 per share at market close on December 10, and showed gradual growth since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. For reference, Activision Blizzard's highest close in 2020 was $86.84 on August 6, at a time when pro sports leagues such as Major League Baseball and the NBA were just beginning to return to action.
Faries also commended the esports community's ability to adapt to a stronger presence on online platforms such as YouTube as a way to connect with fans and other gamers. When discussing the shift in strategy, she said, "Esports has always been a kind of ecosystem, an environment where our players know how to be resilient. They know how to pivot very quickly. They're digitally native."
Looking ahead to 2021, Faries sees the combination of esports' growing energy when it comes to attention and fandom, as well as seeing more engagement on platforms such as YouTube, boding well for the future of the industry.
"To be able to be powerful in both spaces and to continue up and to the right engagement with not only existing fans but new fans is exactly where we want to be," she said. "We feel well-positioned."
April's release of the monthly Housing Starts and Building Permits reports by the Census Bureau provides crucial insights into the construction activity in the housing market. These reports are an economic indicator, shedding light on the current state of the housing market and its broader economic impact.
Caitlin Clark is heading to the Indiana Fever, the number one draft pick and the highest-scoring college basketball player of all time. And while she may not be getting millions from the WNBA, there's a few ways she'll net compensation for her generational talents.
Author of 'Clean Meat,' Paul Shapiro joins Cheddar to discuss how the cellular agricultural revolution helps lower rates of foodborne illness and greatly improves environmental sustainability. Plus, how his company The Better Meat Co. is bringing healthier food options to the table.
Recent headlines might make it sound like World War III is imminent, but when it comes to your finances, it's not the time to panic. The market is coming off its longest winning streak since 2011.
You may have noticed fewer new venture capital-backed startups (like Airbnb or Uber) lately. The market slowed to a crawl after 2021, but things are expected to take off again in 2025.
Corporate earnings season is underway, that time when companies share their billions in sales or double-digit profits. But the data shows even companies are struggling with high inflation and interest rates.
Boeing continues their terrifying trend of having their planes fall apart mid-flight, inflation — checks notes — is still up and the future of AI looks terrifying. Cheery!
Food waste – uneaten scraps or leftovers sent to landfills – is responsible for 10% of global emissions. Mill, a new product from the co-founder of Nest, thinks technology can play a role in eliminating it.
By the time the 2024 election is over, be prepared to see some form of a recession – but this shouldn’t be as bad as what we experienced in 2020 or 2008.
