How eSports and Football Are Changing Each Other: The Case of EDG and Van Dijk

0
EDG

In recent decades, the world of sports has undergone a remarkable transformation: eSports, a new phenomenon that combines elements of classic sporting traditions with cutting-edge digital technologies, has entered the arena. The interaction between traditional sports and eSports has become not only a point of contact for millions of people around the world, but also a source of cultural, social and commercial change. Let’s look at this interaction using the examples of Chinese eSports team Edward Gaming (EDG) and famous footballer Virgil van Dijk. These two figures demonstrate how two seemingly different worlds can intersect and influence each other.

How do eSports and traditional sports cultures interact?

Edward Gaming is one of the most successful esports organizations in the world, specializing in the game League of Legends. Founded in 2013, EDG has quickly become a symbol of Chinese esports, winning numerous titles, including the World Championship in 2021. EDG’s success is based on the same qualities that any traditional sports team should have: teamwork, strategy, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence. Esports, as a phenomenon, has absorbed many aspects of traditional sports. Esports athletes train to a strict schedule, their performances are accompanied by analysis of tactics, and their matches attract millions of viewers, comparable in size to the audience of major football events. For example, the 2021 League of Legends World Championship final, in which EDG participated, attracted over 70 million viewers. This is comparable to the UEFA Champions League final.

One of the key aspects of traditional sports influence on esports is the professionalization of the industry. Football, basketball and other sports have demonstrated for decades the importance of building a systematic approach to training, team management and fan promotion. Van Dijk, a defender for Liverpool FC and one of the best players in the world, has become a symbol of how hard work and dedication can take an athlete to the top. Football and other traditional sports inspire esports not only at an organizational level, but also at a cultural level. Many esports organizations have adopted transfer systems, training facilities and fan relations from football clubs. For example, EDG uses physical and mental training methods that resemble the programs used by football clubs such as Liverpool. Community building also plays an important role, as can be seen in the example of EDG fans who actively support their team not only at tournaments, but also through social media.

Van Dijk

The interaction between traditional sports and esports is also evident in their convergence at the marketing level. Football clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are opening their own esports divisions, participating in FIFA and other competitions. This expands the audience of both football clubs and esports organizations. An example of a successful symbiosis is Edward Gaming, which actively uses football principles to attract fans. EDG fans, like Van Dijk’s fans, are united by a common passion for their sport. Moreover, EDG goes even further, engaging fans through streams, virtual events and online platforms. Van Dijk, in turn, illustrates how traditional sports stars can adopt elements of esports culture. His activity on social media, interaction with a youth audience and participation in virtual tournaments show that esports has already become part of the daily life of many professional athletes.

When you look at Edward Gaming and Van Dijk as icons of their respective industries, it becomes clear that they have more in common than meets the eye: EDG spend up to 10-12 hours a day training, which is similar to the intense training of football teams. Van Dijk, known for his physical fitness, also pays attention to both the technical and tactical aspects of the game. EDG inspires millions of Chinese players to pursue a career in eSports, just as Van Dijk inspires young footballers around the world. EDG and Van Dijk fans are not just spectators – they actively participate in the lives of their idols, creating memes, running forums, and supporting teams or players both online and offline. Technological advances have changed both traditional sports and eSports. For Van Dijk, the use of analytics has become an integral part of match preparation: modern technology allows every player’s movement on the pitch to be analyzed. In eSports, technology is at the core of the game itself, including the development of strategies based on big data. An interesting example is the use of virtual reality and simulators. In football, VR technologies help players train tactics, and in eSports, they have become a new format for competitions.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *