Call of Duty League
The Minnesota Rokkr are one of dozens of multi-million dollar esports franchises on the rise.
- Esports leagues with multi-million dollar franchises are rapidly increasing the earning potential of professional gamers and offering long-term stability for the growing industry.
- Players competing in games like "League of Legends," "Call of Duty" and "Overwatch" bring in salaries that are comparable or even higher than athletes in Major League Soccer, the WNBA, and the NBA's G-League.
- Esports is now a billion dollar industry, but it remains to be seen if the today's most popular video games will retain a healthy enough following to compete with traditional sports sports leagues in the years to come.
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Esports has spent the last decade blossoming into a billion dollar industry and professional gamers have proven that they have the power to reach massive audiences around the globe. As esports continues to boom, multi-million-dollar franchises have shown they're willing to pay gamers as much as professional athletes.
There are only a handful of franchised esports leagues in America, but the salaries and health benefits they provide players have helped stabilize the industry. Players who once payed for their own travel for a chance at winning huge tournament prize pools can now rely on professional leagues to organize competition.
Franchised esports leagues, like the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) and Activision Blizzard's Overwatch League have similar business models to their traditional counterparts and have quietly begun drawing just as many viewers. LCS Commissioner Chris Greeley has repeatedly stated that "League of Legends" is now the 3rd most-watched sport in America for people ages 18 to 34, surpassing Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League.
Investors are pouring millions into these esports leagues in an effort to reach younger demographics that are increasingly disconnected with traditional sports and spending more time than ever playing games. It might be a gamble, but the esports industry has seen steady growth and success with a variety of approaches.
Here's how much players are earning to participate in these professional esports leagues, and how their pay compares to what professional athletes are making in the United States:
