This Saturday, the NCAA Final Four will compete for glory and a spot in the championship. I’m not sure which four teams will be competing, and I’m not sure why I’m currently at the bottom of The Argonaut’s March Madness bracket competition.
But there’s one thing I do know — I’ll be watching the League Championship Series (LCS) spring semifinals instead.
Last spring, I wrote a column detailing my March Madness experience. I wasn’t successful, but there were brief glimmers of hope. I even managed to snag second place, miraculously. And as I found this year, picking teams based on birds was a smart move.
This year, everything changed. With no birds left in the tournament and a rank of 15.6 million, the odds aren’t looking great.
I wasn’t very interested in basketball to begin with, but now I have even fewer incentives to watch.
Max Rothenberg | Argonaut
Instead, there’s an alternative — dare I say an even more entertaining one.
Esports are no longer a relic of the past, and the many various, high-intensity games and packed venues support this notion.
Without being restricted to a single, repetitive event, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy. Feeling in the mood for a teamwork-heavy, strategic viewing experience? Maybe a League of Legends, Counter-Strike or Rocket League tournament is the solution. Interested in a one-on-one, fast-paced afternoon? Perhaps a fighting game like Super Smash Bros. or Street Fighter is better suited for the occasion.
The often funny-sounding, immature game titles don’t accurately represent both the player and viewer demographics. A study from 2015 came to the surprising finding that the average League of Legends player is 26 years old. While the number is still lower than many traditional sports, it’s not to be mistaken for a children’s pastime.
There’s a stigma that with esports comes a worse, lower-quality viewing experience, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
With a budget encompassing close to $100 million per year, League of Legends creator Riot Games is one of many game companies pushing the envelope of mainstream production. Hosts, play-by-play analysts and shout casters all contribute toward a more accessible, user-friendly viewer experience.
ESPN now airs many tournaments as well, either through their ESPN Esports channel or through their secondary cable channel, ESPN 2.
And what’s the fun in watching NCAA only on its host website? Between YouTube and other streaming options such as Twitch, there are a wealth of opportunities to watch these tournaments on your desired platform.
Sure, in basketball you can score a few three-pointers, maybe make some foul-shots if you’ve been naughty. But do you have access to over 120 different, highly complex champions who lend themselves to drastically different team compositions?
Think on that one for a while.
Even if you’ve never played a game, there’s still a reason to give the viewing experience a try. Professional esports players are just as dedicated and likeable as any other, and finding a team that fits your personal criteria is just as rewarding as in traditional sports.
I may not be able to cheer anymore for my feathered friends from Kansas (specific name and mascot still unclear), but you best believe I’ll be cheering for the No. 1 seed Team Liquid this weekend.
But that’s not all — the competition is equally fierce, and the viewership is equally staggering.
Last year’s Super Bowl championship was viewed by 103.4 million unique viewers. On the contrary, 99.6 million unique viewers viewed the League of Legends 2018 World Championships, held in South Korea. While it’s important to note this number includes worldwide viewership, the numbers are still incredible.
The LCS finals, set for next weekend, will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Chaifetz Arena.
The 10,600-capacity arena sold out within minutes, and it’s safe to assume I didn’t make the cut.
Even though March Madness will be over by then, my sports-viewing experience will only have just begun.
Max Rothenberg can be reached at [email protected]