Intel and ESL today announced they are partnering to host the inaugural Global Esports Forum – an exclusive esports conference for brands, sponsors, analysts, investors and media in the esports space. The event will take place on March 1, 2018, one day before the Intel® Extreme Masters World Championship playoffs in Katowice, Poland.
As the first sport born into the digital age, esports has seen unprecedented growth over the last decade, making it the fastest growing spectator sport in the world. Traversing geographic boundaries and capitalizing on the shared love of competitive gaming, this once niche industry has been transformed into a billion dollar market.
Addressing the theme of Unleashing the Next Billion Esports Fans, the Global Esports Forum has invited 500 industry executives for a full-day program filled with panels, keynotes, deep dive tracks, data presentations, and networking opportunities. This forum will feature four tracks:
- Main Track, featuring panels and keynotes that address the most current themes in the esports industry, including the future of esports structures, marketing strategies, and technology that will help unlock esports for the next generation of fans and players.
Speakers featured include: John Bonini (VP/GM of VR, Esports and Gaming, Intel), Ralf Reichert (CEO, ESL), Nicola Piggott (The Story Mob), Victor Goossens (Co-CEO, Team Liquid), and Luis Correia (CEO, Polaris Sport).
- Deep Dive sessions, featuring workshops and presentations from industry experts in the fields of investment, branding, communications & public relations and esports infrastructure development.
Presenters featured include Michal Blicharz (VP Pro Gaming, ESL), Arnd Benninghof (CEO, MTGx), Vera Wessolek (Mercedes-Benz), and Viktor Wanli (CEO, Kinguin).
- Data Track, featuring international research firm Newzoo, who will present the latest findings from the Global Esports Report. Delegates will be able to review the latest data and demo Newzoo’s proprietary Data Explorer for more insights into the esports market.
- Invite Only Expert Discussion, led by the head of UK’s Women in Gaming initiative, David Smith, this will be a workshop focused on reviewing existing and planned initiatives for increasing and maintaining female participation in careers in tech, gaming and esports.
For more information about the Global Esports Forum, please visit www.globalesportsforum.com.
