There is growing evidence that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are getting involved in the video game and esports space, recognizing that owning these spaces might be the key to their future. On Oct. 25, retailer DTLR partnered with Cxmmunity, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing minority involvement in esports, and 300 Entertainment, an independent record label, to create the first HBCU esports battleground and career fair. Musicians Soulja Boy, T-Shyne and Tee Grizzley played Call of Duty with HBCU students virtually to raise money for HBCUs that are losing money because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event followed the creation of a new HBCU esports league called the HBCU Esports Alliance, featuring 19 school partners. Last month, students played on-campus elimination tournaments in NFL Madden and NBA 2K. HBCUs confront an urgent dilemma, exacerbated by the uncontrolled pandemic — dwindling enrollment, leading to economically insecure institutions. Though there is no single path forward academically or financially for the more than 100 HBCUs, they seek a redemption narrative. Some of these schools are reaching for a promising tool for their salvation — video games and esports. The numbers portray a daunting challenge. “According to the National Center for Educational Statistics,” NBC News reported in March, “more than 6,000 fewer students attended the 101 black colleges and universities in the U.S. during the 2018-19 school year. The 291,767 total was down from the 298,134 in the previous year, and was the lowest total since 2001, when there were 289,985 students at historically black colleges.” These schools must address how to coax more Generation Zers away from predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and online schools and in favor of their campuses. For many young folk, a pathway inside the gaming and esports industries will serve as a convincing answer. Gaming and esports are a central component of Generation Zers’ identity. Wim Stocks, chairman of Collegiate StarLeague, the biggest collegiate esports league, says a “recent Nielsen [survey] reports that 90% of kids who are who are entering college would consider themselves gamers and gaming enthusiasts not just as a hobby but really as a lifestyle.” Morning Consult found that 35% of Generation Zers are avid or casual fans of esports, meaning they are more likely to watch esports than college basketball, MLB, UFC and NASCAR. Wooing students to college campuses through gaming and esports involves two components. One is fielding esports teams that can compete against other schools. The other, more important side focuses on developing a curriculum that can recruit students interested in pursuing a career in those industries. Stocks says recruiting is key because “most of [schools’] income comes from tuition being paid or scholarships being awarded, and so the more esports can help them recruit, the more lucrative it becomes.” Furthermore, schools with a heavy esports presence can hold “invitational events,” Stocks noted, that can “be monetized through sponsorships.” Chris Davis, who teaches esports and gaming classes at Livingstone College, an HBCU in Salisbury, North Carolina, says “with HBCUs trying to find those new [ways] to keep promoting and keep [HBCUs] alive and growing into the years, I think this is one of the most natural things to start really getting into. “I think it is going to really take off.” Recently, Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, North Carolina, announced a partnership with Riot Games and launched a minor degree program in esports and gaming. Marc Williams, who is creating a new esports program at Florida Memorial University, concurs, noting, “You have an opportunity to capitalize on this at HBCUs. A lot of presidents and provosts are starting to see the big picture.” The Black Collegiate Gaming Association, founded in May 2020, is a resource that aids HBCUs in taking on the challenge to dominate this new frontier. Keshia Walker, its president, describes the organization as having “a 360-degree approach to helping first our universities, HBCUs, and secondly, black college students regardless of where they are enrolled in college, to become not just competitors in esports and gaming but contributors to the overall industry and we will do that by educating them first and foremost and by secondly giving them internships and job opportunities with the top technology esports and gaming companies in the world.” Rod Chappell, who partnered with Williams to create the HBCU Esports Alliance, “a diversity and inclusion initiative designed to significantly increase the participation of HBCU students, alumni and fans in the $150B gaming and $1.5B esports industries” believes that HBCUs can come to dominate gaming and esports. “With more structure and better methods of educating participants,” Chappell argues, “HBCUs and their students can dominate the space. As HBCUs begin to understand the opportunities that are available in revenue generation and workforce development, their students will begin to embrace and lead the industry in various areas, including competing in leagues, working at gaming/esports companies and creating their own businesses.” “Once black college presidents see this as an enrollment driver, and they see it as an opportunity to build their enrollment, when you talk like that, you got their attention.” – Marc Williams, Florida Memorial University The challenge for HBCUs is creating a new identity as one of the premier institutions for students seeking a career in video games and esports. But HBCUs have to make up ground in this space. As Walker noted, “esports and gaming is very, very new to our colleges” whereas some PWIs have operated in this space for “almost a decade and some, maybe even longer than that.” “There’s only a handful of schools that have esports teams at HBCUs going into 2020 and none of our campuses have dedicated esports and gaming labs. The first thing we have to do is build that foundation to understand the opportunity that there is.” But this is such an inchoate space, HBCUs can make it their own. Walker hopes the Black Collegiate Gaming Association can help to introduce more black folk to a “corporate arena that right now is less than 3% African American.” This is a pronounced gap in many areas, including esports events. Williams notices “when you go to some of these large events, you don’t really see people like us that are … doing the behind-the-scenes work.” Key to making this new frontier their own, HBCUs must develop a thoughtful and interesting curriculum comprehensive enough to attract students. The types of careers in these industries are numerous: animators, programmers, musicians on the game development side, esports competitors, marketers and business development. Teaching the required courses means hiring the right professors. As Williams says, “you really need to have people teaching classes that have a total grasp and understanding of it.” Developing corporate partnerships, particularly those that lead to sponsorships, internships and jobs, also will be key for HBCUs. But Williams cautions schools to ensure they build connections with the right corporations, which means asking the right questions: “ ‘What are your hiring practices?’ ‘What are the things that you’re doing to attract minorities?’ ‘We don’t just want you to throw money at us, but how are you creating pathways for our students?’” Chappell thinks that for HBCUs “to compete long term,” they must build “relationships with companies that will hire students from HBCUs. Once HBCUs and their students determine they want to win in an industry, they tend to dominate even with little resources. This is an area where resources will be plenty, so I would expect even more success.” Williams observed that “everybody wants to partner with black people now because of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, because of what we saw on TV, and we had the pandemic that made us all pay attention to everything that we as a Black community” have been saying. Williams is really sanguine on the future: “a lot of universities are coming to us now that are HBCUs and they are asking us, ‘Can you lead us?’ “Once black college presidents see this as an enrollment driver, and they see it as an opportunity to build their enrollment, when you talk like that, you got their attention.”

With esports’ popularity rising in higher education, universities investing to get involved in the new sport are expected to see a number of benefits. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is known for many academic and athletic achievements. The school was recently ranked third in the nation for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report. Last year, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine listed it as one of the best values in public colleges. And its football program has produced several high-profile head coaches, earning it the nickname “Cradle of Coaches.” It also happens to be leading an emerging and lucrative educational pursuit — as the best program for an education in esports, according to Value Gamers. By now, many educators know that esports — multiplayer video games played competitively for spectators — are no longer just for fun. In fact, they are gaining in popularity against traditional sports such as football, baseball and basketball. More colleges and universities are embracing esports to drive media attention, recruit more digitally minded students and increase revenue through promotions and branded sponsorships. And for many young people, esports have become a way of life. In fact, two-thirds of the U.S. population over the age of 13 are gamers, and an estimated 100 million people worldwide were esports players in 2017. Not surprisingly, esports have become big business as millions of global viewers log on to watch the tournaments. Last year, the final game of esports staple “League of Legends” drew more than 60 million online spectators. It was the second most watched sporting event of the year, following the Super Bowl. MORE FROM EDTECH: Check out what other colleges are doing to prepare for esports on their campuses! Esports Gains Prominence on University Campuses The National Association of Collegiate Esports started as a nonprofit consortium of seven colleges just two years ago. Today, it has more than 100 member colleges representing a vast majority of the varsity esports programs in the U.S. As part of its mandate, NACE schools have awarded more than $9 million in scholarships and aid for students interested in enrolling in esports programs. More than 30 U.S. colleges and universities now offer scholarships for gamers. In fact, at some universities, the amount of scholarships given to esports gamers is on par with that given to traditional collegiate athletes. Schools and universities are also investing in esports arenas fitted with high-end gaming technology to host league tournaments. The University of Akron, for example, is opening three dedicated gaming facilities to accommodate its new varsity, club and recreational esports programs. The spaces will be more than 5,200 square feet and outfitted with more than 90 state of the art gaming PCs and 30 consoles. What Is the Value for Esports Athletes? Clearly, esports are part of an educational trend going mainstream. It feels fresh and exciting, and there are both profit and publicity motives for colleges and universities to participate. At the same time, esports is not without issues. Esports can blur the lines between serious educational pursuits and what many consider to be entertainment. Many parents of high schoolers, for instance, may not understand the value of an esports-focused education. The solution lies in convincing skeptics that esports are not a waste of time, but actually an opportunity for students to practice critical and analytical thinking. Esports also can be financially lucrative. Students have an opportunity to make a lot of money at very young ages through esports. Germany’s Kuro “KuroKy” Takhasomi, who reportedly earned more than $4 million by age 25 by playing in tournaments for the game “Defense of the Ancients.” Today, average tournament prize pools can run around $46,000. However, colleges traditionally require student-athletes to accept amateur status, something most professional gamers are unwilling to do. Schools and universities sponsoring esports programs, therefore, will need to consider prize-sharing models — especially if their esports programs fall under their sports departments, as about 40 percent do. Beyond financial advantages, esports also present opportunities to create entirely new professions. As tournaments grow in popularity, there will be a need for broadcast journalists specializing in coverage of these events. Similarly, marketers will want to study leveraging esports to promote their brands. Young engineers may want to consider leaning into further developing or servicing the next generation of esports technology. These are the few of the tangential careers emerging in the esports economy. Driving STEM Interest at an Early Age Esports can also help bridge the STEM skills gap by luring in young students with the appeal of cutting-edge technology. For example, more than 60 percent of “League of Legends” gamers major in STEM subjects as undergraduates, an executive for the game publisher recently told SportTechie. By comparison, 36 percent of U.S. undergraduates major in STEM fields, according to the National Science Foundation. Another beneficial aspect of esports is that they are driving women to gaming and STEM studies — areas where they have traditionally been underrepresented. According to a study by the Esports Advertising Bureau and Magid, women comprise nearly one-third of the esports audience, accounting for half of all growth in viewership over the next year — a time during which overall audience size has the potential to double. HP as a company is already seeing high-profile examples of this. This year, HP Canada named Stephanie Harvey, a French-Canadian five-time world champion gamer, as its face for the gaming community. As a female pioneer in the field, Harvey has been an outspoken advocate for gaming diversity. She founded the online community Misscliks, which works to make gaming more welcoming for women and minorities. The esports model is still evolving and will likely look different a few years from now. But make no mistake: This is not a temporary fad. It is a burgeoning business — for esports teams, athletes, brands and especially educational institutions. To this end, educators should consider what an investment in esports can do for students and their institutions. The time to get in the game is now.

What is eSports? eSports describes the world of competitive, organized video gaming. Competitors from different leagues or teams face off in the same games that are popular with at-home gamers: Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Madden NFL, to name a few. These gamers are watched and followed by millions of fans all over the world, who attend live events or tune in on TV or online. Streaming services like Twitch allow viewers to watch as their favorite gamers play in real time, and this is typically where popular gamers build up their fandoms. The 2018 Overwatch League Grand Finals were held at the Barclays Center in New York City. Who watches eSports? Short answer? A lot of people. According to a report from Newzoo, a market analytics company, 380 million people worldwide will watch eSports this year, including 165 million eSports enthusiasts (a term that describes frequent viewers, as opposed to occasional viewers). The bulk of these enthusiasts watch from North America, China and South Korea. Tournaments and other events can attract viewing crowds that rival most traditional professional sports outings. The 2017 League of Legends World Championship drew more than 80 million viewers, making it one of the most popular eSports competitions ever. In July, ESPN and Disney XD announced they secured a multi-year deal to broadcast the Overwatch League, a brand-new international league with 12 franchises centered around the incredibly popular multiplayer first-person shooter came, Overwatch. According to research from Newzoo, 588 major esports events were held in 2017. Who plays eSports? As hard as it may be to imagine for devotees of traditional sports leagues like the NFL or the NBA; eSports, at its highest levels, functions in a similar way. In fact, this April, the NBA held a draft for the launch of its new eSports league centered around the basketball-themed NBA 2K game franchise. During the draft, 102 professional eSports players were selected, with all of the pomp and circumstance normally reserved for players on the court. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, center, poses for photographs with gamers at the NBA 2K League draft in April, 2018. Colleges have even gotten in on the action. More than 50 colleges have varsity eSports programs, recognized by a governing body called the National Association of Collegiate Esports. NACE championships dole out thousands of dollars in prize money, which is put towards scholarships for the winners. Where’s the money in eSports? According to research from Newzoo, eSports revenue will reach $906 million worldwide in 2018. By 2019, that number is expected to surpass $1 billion. That’s a lucrative market, not only for the players, but for brands and video game producers as well. Madden 19, the game featured at the tournament in Jacksonville, is part of the long-running EA Madden Franchise. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the EA Madden Franchise has sold more than 130 million units, totaling more than $4 billion in revenue. eSports players, not unlike traditional athletes, can rake in big money: Tournaments can boast millions of dollars in prize money, which is typically split between the players on the winning teams. That means the world’s very tip-top players can easily earn seven figures in a year. Teams and event organizers also benefit from tickets sales for these competitions. That popular League of Legends tournament from 2017? It generated $5.5 million in ticket sales. After the shooting, EA Sports canceled the three remaining Madden Classic qualifier events to review safety protocols for competitors and spectators, according to a release issued by the gaming company. Members of professional eSports team ‘Afreeca Freaks’ prepare to compete in a 2018 ‘League of Legends’ competition in Seoul. Players also earn money from sponsorships, endorsements and league salaries. To that end, Newzoo reports brands will invest $694 million in eSports ventures this year alone. According to the numbers and the seemingly unstoppable cultural momentum, eSports will continue to grow as an industry — and a pastime — for the foreseeable future. By the end of 2018, 1.6 billion people will have some knowledge of eSports — that’s more than one fifth of the entire world’s population. So if you haven’t heard much about eSports yet, give it time. Its spread, both globally and culturally, is inevitable.

Atlanta-based entrepreneur Keshia Walker has become the first Black woman to own a collegiate esports and gaming company. Atlanta-based entrepreneur Keshia Walker has become the first Black woman to own a collegiate esports and gaming company, one that endeavors to promote Black college students as gaming creators and career professionals. Walker, who has spent twenty years running a celebrity events and experiential marketing firm, has now founded the Black Collegiate Gaming Association (BCGA) in an effort to introduce Black college students to the gaming/esports industry. The company will partner with leading HBCUs to provide education and access to the growing gaming industry. RELATED: Fortnite Now Has Official College And High School Leagues According to BCGA, the company’s programming will include virtual and on-campus curriculums; intercollegiate gaming competitions; internships and post-graduation job opportunities; teambuilding and leadership training; professional development and networking events; scholarships and mentorships; and on-campus esports and gaming labs. Walker has signed on 16 HBCUs as charter members, including Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T, Texas Southern University and her alma mater, Florida A&M University. In addition, Intel, GameStop, Nacon Gaming, and Hitmarker have committed as corporate partners. Walker says she strives to diversify both the gaming industry as well as competitions. Schools are also encouraged to organize their own esports teams and compete in tournaments for scholarships and cash prizes. “Gaming is a $159B industry and 73 percent (73%) of African Americans ages 13 years or older identify themselves as gamers. Yet, only 3 percent of those working in the gaming industry are Black and a mere 1 percent are professional gamers. Those numbers just don’t add up,” Walker said. “There is a huge opportunity to diversify the gaming industry to be more reflective of its customer base while exposing young people to promising career opportunities. BCGA is here to open doors and literally change the game of gaming,” she added. Next month, BCGA will launch Military Play, an online three-day esports and gaming virtual tournament in which players will compete in Madden 21, Rocket League and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The event, which will take place on Veterans Day weekend, honors those who have served in the military. Tournament winners will be rewarded with cash and prizes. The company will also host the first-ever multi-city Black College Con and Women Got Game summits next spring. Black College Con is set to take place in Atlanta during HBCU conference tournaments in February and March, while Women Got Game will be held in March during Women’s History Month. Both conferences will address issues related to men and women of color in the gaming industry and esports competitions. They will also serve as a networking opportunity for men and women of color with industry leaders who will be on hand to offer advice, mentoring, education, internships and career opportunities in gaming and esports.