In recent years, e-Sports have made major strides toward legitimacy. Broadcast television has turned e-Sports into a commercial product, some schools have begun giving e-Sports scholarships, and now a major collegiate conference is poised to take the e-Sports movement even further.
The Pac-12 Conference announced that it would be running and broadcasting e-Sports, giving it similar treatment to other conventional sports, according to the sports tech website Sport Techie.
From AB: e-Sports Athletes Looking for Recognition
After engaging Pac-12 students to review their interest, the conference announced the decision to broadcast e-Sports beginning in the upcoming academic year.
“Pac-12 universities are increasingly involved through passionate student groups competing in competitions with popular games. e-Sports is also closely tied to academic departments at Pac-12 universities such as computer science, visual and cinematic arts, engineering and others,” the conference said in a media release.
Competition will be based on a specific game, and will include head-to-head match-ups as well as a tournament for a conference title. Specific game titles and formats haven’t yet been announced.
“e-Sports is a natural fit for many of our universities located in the technology and media hubs of the country,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in the release. “Pac-12 Networks’ commitment to innovation as well as its natural tie to our universities and established media platform make it the perfect organization to develop the framework for e-Sports intercollegiate competition.”
Read More of Today's AB Headlines
Subscribe to Our Daily E-Newsletter
