Solihull’s Resorts World Arena will host an international esports tournament next month, thanks to a successful bid for Commonwealth Games legacy funding by Solihull Council, in partnership with the NEC Group.
In esports (short for electronic sports), professional video game players compete in organised, multiplayer tournaments, usually for a share of prize money and coveted title. Many of these competitions take place in arenas in front of a live audience, and esports is considered by many as the future of sporting entertainment.
ESL One Birmingham 2024 is a competitive Dota 2 esports tournament taking place from Friday 26 April to Sunday 28 April. Hosted by the ESL FACEIT Group, the world-leading esports and video game entertainment company, twelve international teams will battle it out in Resorts World Arena to win money from a $1 million prize pool.
This event will mark ESL One’s highly anticipated return to the West Midlands – their last Dota 2 event in the region, ESL One Birmingham 2019, was hosted at the Utilita Arena Birmingham and drew a footfall of more than 24,000 fans. The esports company also presented the Apex Legends™ Global Series Championship at Resorts World Arena last year through its subsidiary, Esports Engine.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the UK Government is supporting the organisers of the event with £145,000 of funding from the £70 million Commonwealth Games underspend which is being reinvested back into the region, boosting trade and tourism sectors and bringing vital footfall to local businesses.
Councillor Wazma Qais, Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, said:
“I am delighted that Solihull will host this event. The gaming industry has grown massively and is now bigger than the movie and music industries combined. There are an estimated three billion gamers worldwide and esports tournaments have become a huge spectator sport in recent years. I look forward to welcoming the visitors to Solihull this year.
“It is important that Solihull is at the forefront of this dynamic and exciting new competitive sport as an estimated 22,000 predominantly young people will visit during this tournament. This event not only will bring in thousands of people to our borough, but it will also give a welcome boost to local businesses, provide valuable jobs and volunteering opportunities for local people, and supporting our hospitality and retail sectors.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to the WMCA and UK Government for their forward-thinking recognition of the growth in this sport and their support for putting Solihull on the international stage as a result of this Commonwealth Games legacy funding.”
Guy Dunstan, Managing Director for NEC Group Arenas, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to host exciting new genres of shows, such as Esports, at Resorts World Arena.
“It’s brilliant to see the legacy of the Commonwealth Games continuing to benefit the region and we look forward to welcoming the players and fans to Solihull!”
Following discussions between the Mayor and the WMCA’s local authority partners the UK Government has decided to invest the remaining £70 million into the region to enhance the legacy of the Games and ensure the benefits continue their positive impact for many years to come.
Businesses and community groups can find out more about how to benefit from the WMCA’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund on the WMCA's website.