We are no longer in a world where we have to justify encouraging our youth to play video games, but even with the evolution of the industry, there is still a long way to go before esports can officially go head-to-head with traditional sports.

In this episode of the DLC Drop Podcast, John is joined by Glenn Plat, Co-Director of Esports ta Miami University. Glenn has an incredible history and was one of the first to bring an esports program to a university.

Glenn and John discuss the differences between traditional sports and esports, and why there will continue to be a divide between the two. They also talk about how universities should approach their esports program, and what they should realistically be able to expect from a revenue and ROI perspective. 

They also cover how businesses and partners can win in a space that is still finding its footing, and why a long game is going to be the most important play for success. 

If you’re interested in connecting with Glenn, visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennjplatt/

Jennifer Frank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-frank-3bb5a2159/

Full Episode Breakdown:

2:25 – Meeting Glenn and learning more about his history at Miami University.

4:18 – Glenn talks about seeing esports emerge, and why they decided to deal with this as a program at the university.

7:36 – Now that adoption has taken full speed with esports, the harder problem is that people are trying to make it a traditional sport when it’s not.

9:00 – Glenn offers a few differences between esports and traditional sports.

15:26 – When it comes to the IP issue within esports, is this an issue that needs to be resolved, or do we just need to live with it as a community?

22:03 – What do publishers need to be aware of when they’re making decisions for game creation? Glenn talks about what fans are very aware of.

23:50 – How does geography play within the world of esports, and how do fans develop a deeper relationship with their teams?

29:07 – How direct access can change the dynamic of relationships between players and fans.

31:30 – Glenn talks more about the relationship limitations between esports and academia.

35:44 – How collegiate esports are still using esports as a recruiting tool even though it’s not making money, yet.

38:32 – How profitability in sponsorship will, hopefully, pay off.

41:51 – Glenn talks about what companies need to know about implementing a new esports program. 

46:59 – What is the difference between the passion of playing a game versus being an esports gamer, and how can colleges utilize this difference?

52:09 -Glenn and John discuss why the team factor is so important in the world of esports, and where there is room for opportunity.