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Victoria will be home to Australia’s largest ever eSports event when it hosts the inaugural Melbourne Esports Open in September.

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren announced yesterday that Victorian Government plan to make Melbourne “the eSport capital of Australia”, with the inaugural Melbourne eSports Open to take place at Melbourne and Olympic Park, filling the Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and the Melbourne Park Function Centre during the first weekend of September.

The event, in partnership with TEG Live and esports giants ESL, has been tipped to see 10,000 attendees each day on top of a suite of top professional teams in action.

While games and teams are currently not confirmed, Minister Eren promised that the Open will see a packed weekend schedule of top-level professional esports competition in arenas complete with giant video screens, full concert lighting and concert-level audio production.

Annoucing the event, Minister Eren advised “we’re turning Melbourne Park into every gamers dream - giant screens, the best talent and latest technology.

“With millions of gamers both at home and abroad, it’s time to bring all the action and fanfare of esports to our backyard.”    

“The Melbourne Esports Open is a massive scalp for Victoria, tapping into one of the world’s most popular sectors of the sports and entertainment industry.”

The Victoria Government secured the inaugural Melbourne Esports Open thanks to funding from the Major Events Fund, which was boosted by $4.5 million in the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

Visit Victoria has partnered up with TEG Live and ESL, the world’s largest independent eSports company, to deliver the event in Melbourne until 2022.

Images: TEG Live also backs eSports at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena (top) and Melbourne and Olympic Park from the air (below).

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