Big news this morning: DreamHack Montreal 2018 will be held at the Olympic Stadium! Almost instantly, my Messenger exploded with people asking me what I thought. Which is great because it means the word is getting out.
Note: This article is an automated translation. For the original article, click on Français in the menu.
At first glance, this is excellent news because of the message it sends to the rest of the population: “You still don’t believe that esports should be taken seriously? There’s an event at the Stadium.” The symbolism is powerful.
Then, having visited the Olympic Stadium and assessed its capacity to host an esports event, I must say that the potential is enormous. The challenge will be to fill the space so that it doesn’t feel empty, especially in relation to the stands. In an environment that’s too large, the atmosphere quickly disappears, leaving a feeling of emptiness. The last event at the Bell Centre is a good example of this. Conversely, like the Six Invitational at TOHU, when the room is exactly the right size, the atmosphere is just crazy.
One of my fears, however, is that the marketing will be the same as in previous years and that it will be far from sufficient. It’s great to push boundaries and always reach higher, but a failure at an event of this magnitude would have immense repercussions on the Canadian scene. It needs to be full, and I need to see or hear DreamHack ads when I walk around Montreal. It’s not for nothing that all the already well-established shows continue to invest astronomical sums in their marketing budgets; the name alone isn’t enough.
Regarding tournaments, I hope there will be a Rainbow Six one! If there is, you might see me participating in DreamHack as a player for a change.
All in all, I see the initiative as very positive. I’m really looking forward to seeing the upcoming announcements and attending the event, whether as a player, visitor, or otherwise.
To read the press release: https://dreamhack.com/news/dreamhack-montreal-2018-le-stade-olympique-accueillera-le-plus-grand-rassemblement-de-sports-electroniques-au-canada-du-7-au-9-septembre-2018
