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 showcase North Carolina Esports Academy and our competitive teams under Carolina Storm. However, while the event overall was lively and well-attended, it also gave us a sobering reminder of the current reality within the esports space.
Our Booth, While Valuable, Was the Least Popular
Let’s be honest—our section was probably the least popular at the expo. And it wasn’t for lack of effort. We had branding, setups, and a clear message. But the truth is, attendees were more excited about card games, casual retro titles, and arcade machines than competitive esports.
This was a real-world reflection of something we’ve talked about internally for some time: the interest in esports is not what the media or esports conventions often make it out to be. What’s consistent and still thriving? Casual gaming. It’s easier to set up, less dependent on strong internet or expensive equipment, and appeals to a broader range of people.
Casual Gaming Wins When It Comes to In-Person Events
Here’s the thing—console-based casual gaming is just easier to showcase at in-person events. You can have 4–8 people playing on a console simultaneously. That’s a huge contrast to competitive PC esports games, where only one player is usually engaged at a time per machine. And that’s not even accounting for the bandwidth and hardware demands that games like Fortnite or Marvel Rivals require.
This event reinforced what we’ve been saying: esports, as it’s currently structured, doesn’t translate well to pop-up in-person events unless you already have a fully equipped brick-and-mortar location—and even then, the sustainability of such businesses is questionable at best. Statistics have shown over and over that standalone esports venues face significant challenges in staying profitable.
What Worked (and Still Works) for Us
Despite the challenges we saw at Nerdvana, we remain confident in our model at North Carolina Esports Academy. We’ve found success not by trying to follow the trends that are falling flat, but by leaning into community-building and youth development. Our summer and track-out camps, competitive youth teams, birthday parties, and local programs have provided a reliable and impactful path forward. These are environments where esports has a place—not just as a game, but as a tool for learning, structure, and growth.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The big question is this: How do we build community-driven, in-person esports events without the high overhead of internet infrastructure and PC gaming rigs? Right now, the honest answer is—we probably can’t. Not at the scale or convenience that casual gaming offers. But that doesn’t mean we give up. It means we pivot.
We continue to focus on what works. We keep building strong programs for youth, providing opportunities for growth, and creating memorable, valuable experiences around esports in ways that are practical and sustainable. And we stay honest about what the industry is and isn’t, even when it doesn’t match the hype.
The future of esports may not lie in massive events and broadcast deals—it may just lie in community, consistency, and connection. And we’re here for it.
