Recently, Raleigh had the opportunity to host the collegiate finals for League of Legends and Valorant at North Carolina State University. Produced by the Riot Scholastic Association of America and organized in partnership with NC State students, the event was well-run, professionally executed, and a solid addition to the growing esports presence in the Triangle area.
But despite everything going right on the production side, one thing stood out—and not in a good way: the low attendance.
A Free, High-Level Event With Low Turnout
This wasn’t a pay-to-enter event. It was free. And still, only a few hundred people showed up.
To put that into perspective, even lesser-followed collegiate sports like volleyball, lacrosse, and soccer often bring in a few hundred spectators for regular games and thousands for championships. Wake County alone has thousands of gamers who play Valorant, yet that local interest didn’t translate to a live audience.
This isn’t a knock on the event or the people who organized it—they did a fantastic job. But it is a sign that esports still has a popularity problem, especially when it comes to converting online interest into in-person support.
The Harsh Reality: Most College Esports Programs Aren’t Sustainable
Collegiate sports, as a whole, are often not profitable—except for football and basketball. Many other programs exist to serve institutional goals like student recruitment, retention, and Title IX compliance.
Esports is no different. In fact, some colleges have started shutting down their esports programs for a variety of reasons, including cost, lack of student interest, and unclear ROI. The programs that seem to thrive are the ones that go beyond just playing games—they combine education, career development, and community outreach to create real value.
Esports Needs to Be Local—Just Like Traditional Sports
Some people refer to this shift in mindset as “Esports 2.0.” But for us, it’s been the mission since day one.
When examining traditional sports, national leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and NHL are notable, but even these teams have their roots in local communities. The fans show up because it’s their team.
Now think about smaller or emerging leagues:
- Major League Soccer
- National Women’s Soccer League
- WNBA
- Ultimate Frisbee Association
- Minor League Baseball
- United Football League
Many of these struggle to get national attention or build a strong fan base without consistent TV deals or major sponsors. Why? Because building national brand recognition in entertainment is incredibly hard—especially without deep media or ad spend.
Esports faces that same challenge.
Why Carolina Storm Focuses on Community First
That’s why Carolina Storm, in partnership with North Carolina Esports Academy, takes a different approach. Our focus is local. Our mission is to serve the community. And we’ve found success through
- Hosting youth teams, camps, and classes
- Offering educational programming and career pathways
- Running local events that bring families and gamers together
This model doesn’t rely on national media attention. It builds slowly but meaningfully, creating real value and real relationships. And as we’ve seen time and time again—that’s what lasts.
Final Thoughts
The collegiate finals in Raleigh were a win for the esports scene—but they also highlighted some hard truths. Esports won’t grow simply by copying the structure of traditional pro sports. It needs to evolve on its own terms, grounded in local connection and long-term value.
That’s the future we believe in—and the one we’re building, one player and one community at a time.
