Prize pools in esports have become expected—even at the local, amateur level. And while it’s easy to understand why that trend started, it might be time to pause and ask if it’s really helping the long-term growth of the industry. To be clear, I’m not talking about major tournaments or elite-level competitions. Players who’ve reached

This year, we had the chance to represent esports at two exciting events: the first-ever NC Sports Con and North Carolina FC’s Fan Fest. Both experiences highlighted the growing connection between traditional sports and esports—and showed how, when done right, gaming can be a powerful tool for engagement. At NC Sports Con, we hosted a

On April 12th, we had the chance to participate in the inaugural Nerdvana Expo at the Sheraton Imperial Airport Hotel. The event brought together a wide mix of card games, retro gaming, console and PC setups, and even old-school arcade machines—essentially, a full celebration of gaming culture. It was a great opportunity for us to

For a long time, I dreamed of owning an esports organization. It’s been one of my personal goals even before opening North Carolina Esports Academy. For years, I hesitated to take the leap because of the industry’s lack of profitability. But today, I’m in a position where I can confidently pursue this venture. North Carolina