Is Esports Bigger than Soccer?
The debate of which is bigger, esports or soccer, has been ongoing for some time now. While soccer is one of the most widely followed and lucrative sports globally, esports has been growing rapidly in recent years and seems to be closing the gap. In this article, we’ll explore the size and scope of each industry to answer the question: which is bigger, esports or soccer?
Esports Industry Size
In 2022, the global esports audience reached a staggering 456.3 million viewers (Source: Newzoo). Despite being a relatively new industry, esports has grown rapidly, with estimated revenues reaching $645 million in 2022. The growth of esports is also reflected in its job market, with employment opportunities in game development, marketing, streaming, and more.
Soccer Industry Size
Soccer, on the other hand, is one of the oldest and most popular sports globally. The Premier League, one of the top competitions in the world, generated over $7.3 billion in revenues in the 2020-2021 season (Source: Deloitte Football Money League). The global soccer fan base is estimated to be around 4 billion people (Source: Euromonitor International).
Tournament Prize Pools and Awards
When it comes to competitive events, soccer has a significant head start. The FIFA World Cup alone has a $400 million tournament prize pool, while the esports equivalent, the League of Legends World Championship, had a $1 million prize pool in 2022. Despite this, the growth of esports competition prize pools is rapid. As the popularity of esports continues to soar, we can expect to see larger tournaments with even bigger prize pools in the future.
Esports Grows at an Exponential Rate
One of the key factors setting esports apart from soccer is its speed of growth. Esports has evolved from a niche market to a $645 million industry in a decade, while soccer has been around for nearly a century. This rapid expansion is due in part to its digitally native nature, allowing for global scalability and accessibility.
Key Statistics at a Glance
| Category | Soccer | Esports |
|---|---|---|
| Global Fan Base | 4 Billion | 456.3 Million |
| Tournaments Prize Pool | $400M (FIFA World Cup) | $1M (League of Legends World Championship) |
| Industry Revenue | $73B (2020-2021 Season) | $645M (2022) |
| Job Market | 22,000 jobs (2020 est.) | 120,000+ jobs (2022 est.) |
| Growth Rate | 3-4% annual growth | 20%+ annual growth |
Conclusion
When comparing the size and scope of esports versus soccer, it’s clear that both have their strengths. Soccer has been around for nearly a century, with a massive global fan base and significant commercial revenue. However, esports has grown from a niche market to a formidable industry in just a decade.
While soccer still leads in global fan base and commercial revenue, the data suggests that esports is rapidly closing the gap. The speed of growth, access to a global audience, and scalable business model all contribute to this rapid expansion.
In conclusion, esport is bigger than soccer in various aspects such as audience, income, and job market.