Football West has launched its own specialist gaming platform as it joins the $100 billion e-sport phenomenon.
Switch On Sport has been established at a time grassroots football across Australia is currently on hold.
Within days of the suspension in mid-March Football West kicked off its inaugural FIFA 20 E-Series. A second tournament quickly followed, along with Football West supporting the establishment of other competitions across Australia.
The two competitions have proved hugely popular, with a combined total of around 1,000 games. This success has led to Football West setting up Switch On Sport.
The dedicated e-sport platform will not only host future Football West E-Series tournaments – Season 3 got under way this week – but it will also be a host platform for external competitions. These will include the Inter Varsity FIFA 20 Tournament between WA’s universities which involves hundreds of players and commences later this month.
The launch of Switch On Sport will have multiple benefits for Football West. First is the ability to commercialise its expansions into e-sport through pay-to-play tournaments and commercial partnerships in order to increase investment into community football.
The new website will also connect gamers with the mainstream football community, bringing in increased registrations through games such as FIFA 20, Rocket League and Futsal.