A look at Lisbon: the building blocks of grassroots esports

Ahead of ESI Events’ flagship conference ESI Lisbon (September 23-25), ‘Looking at Lisbon’ explores the topics behind the event’s most anticipated panels. This article examines the complexities of building sustainable grassroots communities in esports and looks ahead to the industry leaders who are looking to overcome these challenges.

Building a sustainable and vibrant gaming community in today’s competitive environment is no easy task, especially given the sheer size and quality of competition that has been increasing for decades.

Brands and advertisers are fiercely competing for the attention of Gen Z, a demographic already inundated with entertainment options on every front. Yet in this crowded digital environment, games can become viral sensations almost overnight, only to disappear just as quickly, making it harder than ever to build and maintain a loyal player base.

The professional esports scene, with its big tournaments and star players, often takes center stage, but it’s just the visible peak of a much larger and deeper ecosystem. Beneath the glittering surface lies a vast grassroots ecosystem that is vital to the long-term sustainability of esports.

The grassroots level serves as the essential foundation for the future stars of the professional scene. Amateur tournaments, college leagues, and online qualifiers provide aspiring players with a crucial platform to hone their skills and showcase their talent, giving them the chance to break through to the upper echelons of competitive gaming.

However, this fundamental level faces challenges that limit its growth and, by extension, the future of the esports industry as a whole.

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One of the biggest issues is accessibility. High-end gaming equipment and reliable high-speed internet are essential for any aspiring pro player, but this comes at a cost. For those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, cost can be a barrier to entry, limiting the size and diversity of the talent pool.

Another point of criticism is the lack of structure within grassroots esports. Many local tournaments and leagues are plagued by disorganization, mismanagement, and lack of funding. The lack of structure can be discouraging for ambitious players looking for stability and a clear path to progression.

The lack of sponsorship is also a major obstacle for local tournaments. Unlike the big professional leagues that attract millions of viewers, local events often struggle to find a large audience and therefore sponsorship.

To build, nurture, and foster communities for the long term, stakeholders in the gaming industry, be they teams, tournament organizers, or publishers, need to invest in grassroots communities. But that’s not easy in a time of low financial investment in esports.

How can and do teams, tournament organizers, publishers and other stakeholders build, nurture and foster sustainable communities? Is a competitive scene always the answer? And how important are content creators to this?

At ESI Lisbon, some of the most influential figures in esports will gather to discuss the future of grassroots gaming for our panel Building Blocks: Growing a Community and a Competitive Stage on September 25th.

Representing Challengermode, a platform that allows anyone to host tournaments, is Chief Business Development Officer Philip Hübner, who brings a wealth of experience in creating structured environments where grassroots communities can thrive. From Swedish esports organization Alliance comes Chief Strategy Officer Kelly Ong, who provides a strategic vision for driving sustainable growth.

NES co-founder and CEO Elie Honain joins the group to provide deep insights into how to build and scale grassroots initiatives, while Esports Charts Head of Sales and Partnerships Sergii Rudenko will provide expertise in increasing the visibility and reach of grassroots tournaments.

Tickets for ESI Lisbon (23-25 ​​September) are still available here.