Virtual gaming ‘could be bigger than real sports’

The David Beckham-backed Guild Esports thinks virtual gaming could be bigger than real sports

The boss of the David Beckham-backed Guild Esports thinks virtual gaming could be bigger than real sports.

Esports is a form of competitive video gaming, where players compete in front of an audience in games like Fortnite and League Of Legends.

Jasmine Skee, head of Guild Esports, the London-listed company, told the Mail: “With Gen Z and Gen Alpha, their attention spans are very different.

Occupation: Guild, in which former England captain Beckham owns a 4.7 percent stake, manages teams competing in video game tournaments

‘Do they watch 90 minutes of football? Are they watching a five-day test match? I highly doubt it. And that’s the generation that comes through.’

Guild, in which former England captain Beckham has a 4.7 percent stake, manages teams that compete in video game tournaments. Last year, the company announced a multi-million pound sponsorship deal with Sky.

Estimates suggest the global esports market is worth a whopping £2.8 billion, with some numbers suggesting it could grow to £17 billion by 2032.

And it’s no surprise: the number of global fans reached 532 million in 2022, more than rugby and baseball.

However, shares of Guild have fallen in recent months.