Key points:
- Nearly any student can participate and benefit from the camaraderie of esports
- An inclusivity pledge can be an integral part of your esports program
With esports growing fast among college students, educators across the U.S. face an opportunity to build programs that foster inclusivity and diversity in ways traditional sports fall short.
It’s no secret that esports are rapidly rising in popularity. The esports market is projected to reach $1.6 billion in 2023, with a worldwide audience of an estimated 540 million people. There are also 7 million active streamers on Twitch today, many of which are broadcasting their gameplay to their millions of followers — further increasing awareness of esports every day.
Esports are emerging on college campuses. There are currently more than 240 National Association of College Esports member schools and over 5,000 esports student-athletes today, a figure that continues to grow rapidly.
One of the main reasons for esports’ fast growth is its inherent inclusivity. Unlike other sports, students of all backgrounds, colors, abilities, and ages can participate on an equal playing field. By removing most of the physical demands of traditional sports, nearly any student can participate and benefit from the camaraderie of being on a sports team.
At Montgomery County Community College, we’ve found tremendous success with our esports program. The Mustangs esports team is our all-gender athletic program that launched in the spring of 2020.
Kelly Dunbar is the Director of Athletics & Campus Recreation at Montgomery County Community College.
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