On January 17, 2013, Katowice hosted the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) for the first time. Despite the bitter cold, 10,000 spectators lined up outside the flying saucer-shaped Spodek stadium. Since then, Katowice has become the largest e-sports hub in the world.
Katowice used to be known for its industrial and art scenes. But in recent years, the city has become a hub for e-sports pros and enthusiasts.
Katowice is only the tenth largest city in Poland, with a population of about 300,000. None of this is enough to make him the center of European e-sports. Still, it's home to some of the world's best pros and teams, competing in front of the world's most passionate e-sports audience. Today, the sport has attracted more than 100,000 spectators in a single weekend, almost a quarter of Katowice's annual total.
In 2013, no one knew they could take e-sports to this extent here.
"No one has ever held an e-sports event in a 10,000-seat stadium before," Michal Blicharz, ESL's vice president of careers, recalls his first concern. "We're afraid the place will be empty."
Blicharz said his doubts were cleared up an hour before the opening ceremony. As thousands of people were already packed inside the Spodek Stadium, there was a queue outside.
Since then, IEM has grown beyond Blicharz's imagination. Back in season 5, Katowice is packed with pros and fans, and the core events have given the city a key role in the rise of e-sports globally. That year, spectators no longer had to contend with the Polish winter, they waited outside in warm containers.
"Katowice is the perfect partner to provide the resources needed for this world-class e-sports event" said George Woo, Intel Extreme Masters Marketing Manager.
What makes Katowice so special is the enthusiasm of the spectators, the atmosphere that can't even be duplicated, the spectators, regardless of nationality, gives the same cheer to the players from other countries. It is this passion that has created the world of e-sports on an international scale.
The IEM Katowice event holds a special place in Blicharz's heart, and he is most proud of bringing digital entertainment to the city's industrial heartland around steel and coal and playing a key role in shaping the city's future.
This year, the IEM ran from February 25 to March 5. The first part of the event was "League of Legends" and the second part was "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive". Visitors to Katowice will also be able to experience a variety of new VR experiences.
Now in its 11th season, the Intel Extreme Masters is the longest-running series in history. Woo says that e-sports fans from more than 180 countries have helped IEM hold the record in viewership and attendance. He believes that games are not just competitive sports, but spectator sports. Live television and online streaming have made these events accessible and interesting to a wider audience. Woo thinks this is a sign that more viewers expect events like the IEM to perform.
Post time: Jun-21-2022