Now Reading: Paris rescues Esports World Cup after Riyadh relocation
-
01
Paris rescues Esports World Cup after Riyadh relocation
Paris hosted the Esports World Cup after safety concerns linked to the US-Iran conflict forced the tournament out of Riyadh. France had about eight weeks, or 50 days, to prepare for more…
The Story in Brief
Paris hosted the Esports World Cup after safety concerns linked to the US-Iran conflict forced the tournament out of Riyadh. France had about eight weeks, or 50 days, to prepare for more than 2,000 players, over 1,000 support staff, 450 broadcast workers and millions of fans across seven weeks.
The Saudi government paid France $250 million, Hindustan Times reports, while more than $400 million had already been invested in the tournament, according to an Indian esports company owner cited by the publication. The event opened at Porte de Versailles with stars including Magnus Carlsen, Faker and Cristiano Ronaldo promoted across Paris. The tournament returns to Saudi Arabia next year, but its successful relocation could support a wider plan to rotate future editions between cities.
The Indian Opinion
The loudest narrative may be that Paris either exposed Saudi Arabia’s dependence on money or instantly made the tournament a truly global event. Neither conclusion is proved by one emergency edition. Paris showed that organisers can shift a large esports event quickly, but the $250 million payment and more than $400 million investment also reveal its cost. The real test is whether future editions can attract comparable crowds and sponsors without another emergency subsidy.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
