As the popularity of online gaming is rapidly growing around the world, Tampa’s Esports Players Club is helping locals sharpen their skills and break into the profitable industry.
Located on Kennedy Boulevard, Esports Players Club opened in February 2022 and supplies everything a gamer needs to turn their gameplay into profit. The top-of-the-line equipment and relevant classes are geared towards giving players the knowledge and resources necessary to grow their careers in electronic sports.
“The main goal is to really create the next generation of esports athletes,” said Alex Matzkin, CEO and founder of Esports Players Club. “If you talk to any kid right now and ask them what they want to be when they grow up, it’s an influencer or a streamer. We can really help them put all the tools together to kind of really help launch their platform.”
According to Newzoo, the worldwide esports audience reached 474 million viewers in 2021. That number is expected to increase to 577.2 million by 2024, so there is a lot of money to be made in the world of online gaming. Millions, to be exact.
“Fortnite world champion 2019 was a 17-year-old kid, and that payout was $3 million. The top 83 esports athletes make over a million dollars a year,” Matzkin said.
While the Esports Players Club is the perfect place for gamers to improve their skills to make some cash, you can also join the club purely for fun. With just a base membership, members get unlimited freeplay, opportunities to take classes and enter tournaments, and a chance to reserve stream and podcast rooms.
For more information and to sign up for a free class, check out the Esports Players Club website.
Producer/Reporter: Gabe Glassman
Videographers: Gabe Glassman, Hayden Graham
Editor: Gabe Glassman
Web Editor: Claire Mercier
