A pandemic may feel like the worst thing in the world for a Visitors and Conventions Bureau, but through hardship can come opportunity. That’s exactly what the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau did amid the 2020 shutdown. 

Ed Tomasi and Loren Gold talk to Megan Van Patten today on Esports Connected to talk about the impact esports has had on the City of Raleigh. They also discuss the pivot from live events to virtual, and why it ended up being a silver lining for finding opportunities for not just those visiting Raleigh, but those also living in Raleigh.

To find out more about Visit Raleigh, visit: https://www.visitraleigh.com/

The Esports Connected Podcast was created by the Esports Trade Association. To find out more, visit: https://esportsta.org/

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:14 – Meeting Ed and Loren, and how they got involved in esports and why it’s so important for them to see the esports world, specifically events grow.

2:23 – Ed and Loren discuss all that they’ve done (and continue to work on) within the esports market.

5:31 – How Subnation got involved with the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, and why the partnership made so much sense.

7:32 – Why it’s so crucial to understand the importance of partnerships and not transactions when it comes to inviting and welcoming more sporting events to Raleigh.

9:10 – How has the events program shifted since the events of 2020.

12:53 – With struggles, comes opportunities and Ed and Lauren talk about the opportunities that were created from dealing with the pandemic.

14:51 – Ed and Lauren talk about how their journey led them to esports.

21:52 – What’s next for events and esports in the city of Raleigh, and what these gentlemen are working on.