November 2023
The Rise of Esports and the Role of the Sports Commission Letter from DSC Director of Sports Igor Bakovic.......2 2023 Champions of Economic Impact Award.........3 Launch of the Midwest Esports Invitational...............4 A Roundtable Discussion with Tourism Leaders on the Value of Esports...................................4
Dear Partners, While esports have been around for a while, they are just starting to gain attention and momentum in the sports tourism space. As we near the end of the year, I want to highlight this important market and energize our partners, as we are energized by the opportunities that lie ahead. DuPage County has become a recognized player in the esports market, as you will see throughout this special edition publication. There is growing demand for tournaments at all levels, with existing events already showing significant return on investment. The DuPage Sports Commission will continue to carve out DuPage’s relevance in esports and our regional market share. More than four years after the launch of the DuPage Sports Commission, DSC’s mission remains vital and even more relevant as event incubator, development advocate, lead generator, and community collaborator. Thank you to all our partners for following and supporting our efforts. I look forward to sharing more with you in 2024.
Igor Bakovic Director of Sports, DuPage Sports Commission
Click here to listen to Igor’s interview with Sports Events Entertainment Network as he discusses the draw of DuPage County and the goals he has for this year and beyond.
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DuPage Sports Commission • November 2023
2023 CHAMPIONS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD Frosty Faustings XV and the DuPage Sports
Fort Lauderdale, Orlando,
Commission have been selected as 2023 Champions
and others. Award criteria
of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports
focuses on an event’s economic
Destination Management in the large market category.
impact on the host communities, including spectator
From humble beginnings to its celebratory 15th
fees, hotel room usage, and patronage of restaurants
year, Frosty Faustings epitomizes the emergence and
and shops.
relevance of esports in the sports tourism industry. With more than 2,500 room nights consumed over this four-day event, gamers and guests delivered an estimated economic impact of $2.81 million.
This is the second time DSC has been honored, having been recognized in 2022 in partnership with Stardust Bowl in the large market category for the local impact of the 2022 United States Bowling
As one of the largest esports events in the Midwest,
Congress Women’s Championships. The tournament
people traveled from every corner of the United
brought approximately 400 visitors each day to
States to immerse themselves across 25 game titles
DuPage County over the tournament’s 10 weeks
for the right to call themselves champions. More
with players hailing from all 50 states as well as
than 3,500 gamers took over the guest rooms and
internationally. The final impact report showed
meeting space of DuPage County’s largest hotel, The
18,562 room nights attached to the event.
Westin Chicago Lombard, and additionally filled room blocks at several other area hotels. Cheers, chants, and adrenaline kept participants and spectators on the edge of their seats. The event was also an official qualifier for the Arc World Tour. DSC looks forward to welcoming Frosty Faustings again in January 2024. DuPage County stands in good company. Other 2023 Champions of Economic Impact in the large market category include major destinations such as Dallas, Tulsa,
The Rise of Esports and the Role of the Sports Commission
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LAUNCH OF THE MIDWEST ESPORTS INVITATIONAL One of the major roles of the DuPage Sports Commission
to compete in Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Super Smash
is to incubate and create new sporting events. In a
Bros. Ultimate. The Midwest Esports Invitational will
market the size of DuPage County, with its numerous
provide a premier atmosphere for colleges to showcase
positive tourism attributes and existing base of events,
their esports programs, complete with an event expo,
opportunity lies in advancing grassroots sports tourism
and impressive prize pools.
— resulting in new and stronger tourism drivers. Proven in existing cases within DuPage, grassroots events are capable of bringing competitors and visitors from around the country, and world, to DuPage County along with positive economic impact. Enter the Midwest Esports Invitational — DSC’s first venture in capitalizing on the growing tournament needs of the esports market. The tournament will run February 24 - 25, 2024 and will be hosted in Lisle, Illinois. DSC looks forward to welcoming a number of prestigious and major esports collegiate programs from across the country
Click here to watch the promotional video
A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH TOURISM LEADERS ON THE VALUE OF ESPORTS Sports Planning Guide “Convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and their
Gold, executive VP at Greater Raleigh CVB; Nick Kleva,
respective sports commissions across the globe play
director of sports development at Visit South Bend
critical roles for their unique destination’s marketing
Mishawaka; and Matt Wilson, senior VP of sports & events
and development for tourism—be it for business or
at Arlington (Texas) Sports Commission. Each of these
pleasure. These not-for-profit organizations are the first
destinations is renowned for their strong presence in
step to organizing and promoting events, whether that
the esports industry. Dive into our roundtable discussion
be a convention or an esports tournament. We sat down
to learn how these CVBs are pushing the industry at a
to talk esports with Igor Bakovic, director of sports at
localized level.”
DuPage Sports Commission in suburban Chicago; Loren
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DuPage Sports Commission • November 2023
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to read the full article.