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JW Diamond Ballroom Foyer420 minsStop by the Registration Center to obtain your EsportsTravel Summit badge, which you will need for all on-site and off-site functions at the EsportsTravel Summit. Please plan to collect your badge before the Opening Celebration.
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JW Diamond Ballroom FGH60 mins
During this fast-paced reverse trade show, meet with esports event organizers to fill available slots on your appointment schedule or discuss other times to meet during the EsportsTravel Summit. The marketplace is designed for quick check-ins so make sure you are not depriving others of their time to meet with event organizers, who will be stationed at designated tables.
The Event Organizer Reverse Marketplace is open only to event organizers, sponsors and suppliers with marketplace tables.
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Mall of America — Parkview Room180 mins
Get ready for an extraordinary opening celebration that sets the stage for the EsportsTravel Summit! We’re thrilled to invite you to Mall of America—the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States—for an unforgettable evening of networking, excitement and esports action. Whether you’re a gamer or just want to experience the thrill of being in the game, our live esports competition will offer something for everyone. Compete alongside industry peers or cheer for your favorites—it’s a celebration of the very best in competitive gaming. Then enjoy exclusive access to unique attractions at the mall's entertainment attractions, from thrilling rides to immersive experiences. Or stay with us and mingle with top esports tournament and video-game event organizers, destination marketers and suppliers in a relaxed and engaging environment. Build connections that could shape the future of your business and get the EsportsTravel Summit off to a terrific start!
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JW Diamond Ballroom Foyer615 minsStop by the Registration Center to obtain your EsportsTravel Summit badge, which you will need for all on-site and off-site functions at the EsportsTravel Summit.
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BreakfastJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer60 mins
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED15 minsKick off the EsportsTravel Summit with a welcome from Jason Gewirtz, the vice president of Northstar’s Sports Division, and dignitaries from Bloomington.
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED45 mins
From the professional ranks to the grassroots, esports events are still evolving. Economic pressures have posed recent challenges for parts of the esports events industry but also provided new opportunities, as growth remains steady at the collegiate and amateur levels. In this opening discussion, hear from experts across the industry on how they view the in-person events landscape, the challenges and opportunities ahead for event organizers and destinations wanting to host events, and what the future holds for an industry that remains filled with potential.
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED30 mins
In this rapid-fire session, hear firsthand from several esports event organizers on events for which they are seeking hosts, what direction their organizations are taking in the immediate future and what their vision of in-person events looks like in the years to come.
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Networking BreakJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer15 mins
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Mall of America – C22475 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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Networking BreakJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer15 mins
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED60 mins
Bloomington, Minnesota, is a shining example of what a destination can do with their own unique assets when it comes to esports. From successful activations at the Mall of America to a grassroots gaming festival that attracts visitors from around the word, Bloomington has leaned into its ciivic treasures to plant a flag in the industry. In this session, hear from the key people involved in growing an esports strategy in the destination, lessons they’ve learned that could apply to your destination, and best practices from festival organizers that underscore Bloomington’s esports strategy.
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Networking BreakJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer15 mins
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED20 minsFor years, Convention, Sports & Leisure, International (CSL), has been surveying esports fans on their preferences and their willingness to travel. In this session, hear the exclusive results of their latest research. Among the questions we’ll answer: Which games do fans want to watch the most? What would make them travel to more events? How far are they willing to travel? What is the overall esports event landscape? Are the number of events trending up or down? What can your destination do to attract more esports events?
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED40 mins
In 2024, Fort Worth, Texas, was the epicenter of professional esports. Over two consecutive weekends, the city’s Dickies Arena hosted the Fortnite World Championships followed by the Rocket League World Championships. Combined, the events drew participants from nearly every state and several countries from around the world. In this session, hear from the event’s organizers, BLAST, as well as representatives of the city as to what they expected from the event and what they experienced. You’ll also get the unique perspective of a father who traveled with his son from out-of-state to attend the event.
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED20 mins
The most prestigious medical organization in the world is also in esports. For years, the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic has been investing in the industry to help esports organizations train their players and ensure that their health and wellness needs are met. But it’s not just the professional teams that can benefit from their expertise. In this chat with one of the leading medical experts in esports, learn why the Mayo Clinic is focused on esports, how the organization is helping players and what your events need to know about how to offer the best medical attention possible for your participants.
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED40 mins
From the record-setting $2.6 million prize pool for the SMITE World Championship in 2015 to celebrating over 100 million registered players at the Brawlhalla World Championship in 2024, Metro Atlanta and Cobb County, Georgia, have been attracting top video game events, competitors and fans. In this session, learn how the region continues to attract and support the biggest international esports events. And learn why the most recent Brawlhalla event was named Cobb Sports Alliance Spot-On Event of the Year. Hear how the region’s esports scene has evolved over 10 years and how organizers like Skillshot Media support grass-roots esports initiatives and partner with the local sports commission for the region's collective benefit.
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Networking BreakJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer30 mins
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Mall of America – C22470 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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JW Diamond Ballroom Foyer60 mins
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165 mins
Enjoy the restaurants and nightlife of Bloomington on our open evening and make new connections with your fellow EsportsTravel Summit attendees.
If you are looking for entertainment options at the Mall of America in Bloomington, several of the mall's attractions are offering discounts for EsportsTravel Summit attendees. Click here to get a complete list of those attractions and their discounts.
And if you're interested in venturing to Minneapolis, the EsportsTravel Summit has arranged discounted tickets to the Minnesota Lynx/Las Vegas Aces WNBA game at Target Center. Click here to access that discount and enter the code Esports2025
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Mall of America — The Lounge150 mins
After an open evening to explore everything that Bloomington has to offer, continue your experience at the EsportsTravel Summit during our Late-Night Lounge, held in an actual lounge setting at the Mall of America. Enjoy the opportunity to play video games, chill to the video game-themed music of DJ Theology and network with your fellow attendees. Meet people you haven't yet met and make the most of this open networking opportunity!
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JW Diamond Ballroom Foyer315 mins
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BreakfastJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer60 mins
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED45 mins
The DuPage Sports Commission in Illinois is doing something groundbreaking for a destination in esports: owning and operating its own collegiate invitational. Earlier this year, the second Midwest Battleground was held in the Chicago-area destination, attracting more than 40 college teams in an event that also included a high school and grassroots component. In this session, hear how the destination launched the event, lessons learned from the inaugural competition, how the event grew in its second year, challenges the event faced, opportunities it offered as well, and what your destination needs to know about launching your own esports event.
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Networking BreakJW Diamond Ballroom Foyer15 mins
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Mall of America – C224120 minsThe marketplace is open only to industry suppliers with marketplace tables and event organizers.
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JW Diamond Ballroom ED60 mins
In our closing session, stay for lunch and receive a warm welcome to Cincinnati, host of the 2026 EsportsTravel Summit before settling in for our final session of the day.
For years, esports and traditional sports events have found ways to do more than co-exist. In the best-case scenario, they’ve been able to complement each other to one another’s benefit. One organization — Rally Cry — has found a way to make that kind of collaboration work. At its Championship Tour attached to high-profile college football games last season, organizers activated a mobile gaming truck to engage college students and gamers by allowing competition in the esports version of the action on the field. And in doing so, they are looking to partner more closely with destinations to find new ways of merging esports and traditional sports. In this chat, learn how your destination can think about activating esports at events you are already hosting or may host in the future.
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