'Super Bowl of Gaming' means big money for Austin
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a packed house at Moody Center on Friday as thousands of fans packed in to watch the “Super Bowl of Gaming”.
The BLAST.tv Austin Major started on June 3 in Austin, and sold-out playoffs kicked off Thursday and will run through Sunday.
Professional gamers competed against each other in the game Counter Strike.
The event draws in fans of gaming from around the nation and the world, with about 65% of attendees being from out-of-state.
Gamers can also tune in and watch online.
A spokesperson with BLAST.tv said they estimate a direct economic impact of more than $30 million for Austin.
The event, which sold out within six hours, will see around 40,000 attendees over the four days it’s in Austin.
Why was did this international event decide on Austin as the host city?
One reason could be that Texas is one of the best states in the country for gamers. A study released this month from GamblingSites.com ranked Texas as the second-best state for gamers.
The website created the Gamers Paradise Index Score, which ranks states on factors, like internet speed, gaming conventions, esports pros, streamers and gaming-related search interest.
BLAST Premier is a worldwide Counter-Strike tournament series where the “best teams and biggest superstars” compete for a $1.25 million prize pool, according to BLAST’s website. Counter-Strike is a multiplayer, first-person shooter game played across the world.