March 23, 2023 — Willowbrook, Illinois … As the esports industry continues to develop, the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) strives to advance the broader interests of the entire competitive gaming community. Through promotion, education, networking and live member events, ESTA brings together many of the industry players that shape this $1 billion + market.
The organization has taken another step forward with the introduction of a new publishing platform in partnership with Sports Planning Guide (SPG). Under the agreement, SPG will create a dedicated newsletter and annual publication under ESTA’s EsportsNext brand. The digital and print publications will help unite the industry and present a unified communication channel for the esports association and its community members.
Set to launch late Spring 2023, the newsletter will provide industry professionals with the latest news, insights and updates on the rapidly growing world of esports. The EsportsNext magazine debuts around the association’s annual conference in August, with in-depth feature articles, research reports and insider interviews with tournament planners, hosts and technology providers.
“Since our start in 2017, ESTA has been focusing on promoting business expertise and sustainable growth of the esports industry,” said Megan Van Petten, founder of ESTA. “By combining our expertise and resources, we are able to provide our members and subscribers with the most up-to-date information and insights on the latest trends and technologies in esports.”
“We are thrilled to be working with ESTA on this exciting new project,” added SPG project lead and social media expert Christopher Silbernagel. “Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and we believe that this publication and newsletter will be an invaluable resource for anyone working in the esports industry.”
Esports’ growth skyrocketed during the height of 2020 lockdowns, along with the growing adoption of competitive games like Fortnite, Call of Duty and Valorant, which have become major aspects of pop culture. According to a report by Insider Intelligence, esports viewership numbers grew from 21.1 million in 2019 to 31.4 million in 2023 and are expected to continue climbing.
About Esports Trade Association
The ESTA promotes, protects, and advances the broader interests of the esports community. ESTA accomplishes this by providing forward-thinking professional development programs, networking opportunities, relevant industry research and valuable tools and resources to the membership. ESTA focuses on promoting business expertise and sustainable growth of the esports industry by growing the number of participants, sponsors, products and services, procuring industry research and executing industry events.
About Sports Planning Guide
As the leading print and digital resource for the competitive sports tournament and event industry, SPG connects tournament and event planners with sports tourism destinations and facilities to help them plan unforgettable events. SPG is a Premier Travel Media brand.