Explore Waterloo Region is attempting to host an electronic sports (esports) event, the BLAST Rocket League North America Major, at The Kitchener Memorial Arena in June 2025.
According to NewZoo, a PC and console game data platform, the competitive video gaming and esports industries are rapidly growing. The esports industry had an estimated global worth of 1.1 billion dollars in 2021, with annual growth of 15.7 per cent, meaning it’s a great attraction to promote the region of Waterloo.
Allister Scorgie, the Director of Sport Hosting at Explore Waterloo Region, said Explore Waterloo is interested in esports because it is an event type that draws tourism and visitors to the Waterloo-Kitchener community, which is their primary goal.
Explore Waterloo Region is planning to host major esports events in Kitchener. Depending on what kind of event they are hosting, they will require different levels of funding and support. Though the organization can use their internal resources, they are thinking about partnering with a city, like Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge, to host future esports events within the region.
“The event is wildly popular. It’s been growing rapidly in the last 10 years, especially around the globe, and Canada and North America are a little slower to catch up,” Scorgie said.
Explore Waterloo Region submitted a formal bid to BLAST after the organization shortlisted the Region of Waterloo as a location to host a Rocket League tournament in 2025. The region could attract as many as 8000 spectators a day during an esports event.
However, Explore Waterloo Region didn’t reveal when the bid result will be announced.
Explore Waterloo Region is trying to provide more resources and support to host esports events in the community. They hope to invest in local programs, events and activities; drive economic growth impact and job growth; and support learning experiences and educational initiatives tied to esports in local institutions.
Waterloo Region is a major tech hub in Canada where multiple global tech companies located including Google, Shopify and Blackberry. The region also has gaming companies like Odyssey Interactive and Horrible Unicorns Game Studios, who Explore Waterloo Region want to collaborate with.
The Culture and Entertainment Department at the City of Kitchener hope the presences of the technology conglomerates will help promote esports and promote the region as Canada’s technological centre. Their goal is to help the economic development within the community.
Scorgie said esports are very popular in the region, adding that universities, colleges and local high schools, like Waterloo Collegiate Institute, are already involved in the esports community.
Jeremy Dueck said that esports events can promote the programs related to technology and gaming hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo’s post-secondary institutions. “There is a direct correlation between the esports communities with the institutions,” Dueck said.
Dueck is planning to collaborate with universities and colleges for event venues and promote their technology and gaming-related programs. This could benefit the school as much as the event. “We’re trying to provide ways to engage with their students and their programs with other partners in the esports world,” Scorgie said.
There are no further updates about Explore Waterloo Region’s bid to host the BLAST Rocket League North America Major. However, the organization hopes to adhere to their predicted deadline for hosting the esports event in June 2025. Scorgie also hopes that Laurier students interested in gaming and esports will continue to support Explore Waterloo Region’s initiative to introduce esports events within the K-W area by following their social media and supporting any student organizations on campus tied to esports.
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