Georgia Esports League

Georgia Esports League now in play at state colleges

The Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup was held in May at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park. (SkillShot Media)

BY DYANA BAGBY

Georgia is implementing a game plan that combines esports competition, curriculum and workforce development to help college students get jobs in the gaming, esports and digital entertainment fields.

The new program, named the Georgia Esports League (GEL), is a partnership between the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Georgia Film Academy, and esports companies SkillSkillshot Media and Atlanta-based Ghost Gaming. The league will be open to all 2-year and 4-year colleges in Georgia and will offer numerous titles beginning with Rocket League.

It’s the nation’s first statewide initiative to serve the videogame, esports, and digital entertainment industry, according to a state official.

“Gaming and digital entertainment are key industry initiatives for Georgia,” said Asante Bradford of the Department of Georgia Economic Development in a news release.

“The Georgia Esports League will help attract college students across our state to this growing industry, so we can continue to fill the jobs posted by the many tech and digital media companies relocating to Georgia,” Bradford said.

Rocket League, a video game where players score soccer goals using high-powered vehicles, is played across Georgia in middle school and is a sanctioned high school varsity sport. It is also played at the collegiate and professional level. Ghost Gaming has a top professional Rocket League team.

“Esports is education,” said Todd Harris, CEO of Skillshot Media and Ghost Gaming, in the release. “We’re excited to build out skill development that goes well beyond just playing games.”

Live esports events are on the rise in Georgia. In May, Skillshot, EsportsU and the Collegiate Sports Management Group produced the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup at Gateway Arena in College Park. The Riot Games come to Atlanta in October where the Worlds 2022 League of Legends semifinals will take place at State Farm Arena. In November, the global gaming festival Dreamhack returns to the Georgia World Congress Center with an expected attendance of over 40,000.

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