Esports events continue to prove their value far beyond the competitive scene. Esports business expert Tom Varizan has shared new data provided by James Woollard, Vice President of BLAST, showing that major esports tournaments boost tourism, increase visitor spending, and generate significant economic benefits for host cities.
New data highlights esports’ economic impact
In a post on X, Tom Varizan shared statistics previously presented by BLAST Vice President James Woollard. According to him, the figures once again demonstrate that international esports events have become an important driver of tourism and local economic growth.
According to the published data:
- 91% of BLAST event attendees would like to visit the host city again;
- Fans stay in the city for an average of four days, longer than visitors attending NASCAR or American golf events;
- Some host cities have achieved a return on investment (ROI) of more than 50 times their spending on esports events.
The figures suggest that major esports tournaments provide host cities with more than just international exposure—they also deliver measurable economic value.
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Major cities are increasingly competing to host esports events
Tom Varizan said he discussed the topic during VivaTech, noting that many of the world’s largest cities are now eager to host esports tournaments because they are seeing tangible economic results.
He also pointed out that esports audiences have several characteristics that make them particularly valuable for local economies:
- They travel internationally;
- They stay in the destination for several days;
- They spend money on hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other local services;
- They are highly likely to return to the city in the future.
I say it often enough: esports events are drivers of economic benefits for cities.
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Esports is becoming an increasingly important part of urban development
In recent years, more and more cities have invested in hosting international esports tournaments as a way to attract tourists, support local businesses, and strengthen their global profile. The latest data shared by BLAST further reinforces the idea that esports has evolved far beyond entertainment and has become an increasingly valuable contributor to the economic development of host cities.
