[AnimeGamer]

3 Best Esports Arenas in the World 2023

Esports, a simple little word that had meant nothing at the turn of the century, has evolved into one of the largest industries just after two decades. Gamers of the 90s would have never thought that the spiritual successors of their favorite games would be played in massive arenas with millions watching; no one could have. But many still regard esports as just a hobby, and mere time passes, a thought which will undoubtedly come back to haunt them with how the industry is growing.

A large part of their success can be attributed to the gathering, as this spirit has given esports the power to persist. In the early 2000s, players would gather in massive hotel lobbies and play, but now we have dedicated esports arenas that hold all sorts of tournaments annually and monthly. Some of these tournaments are mentioned in the article below.


Table of Contents

1. Châteauform' Les Docks de Paris
   
2. HyperX Arena Las Vegas
   
3. Michelob ULTRA Arena - Mandalay Bay
   

Châteauform' Les Docks de Paris

Figure 1-1. Châteauform' Venue

There are many venues or event places in an ancient city like Paris, but while some may have the technological support, they lack the space to accommodate a large audience and vice versa. But Châteauform' Les Docks de Paris, it seems, aims to fix this issue as it holds state-of-the-art technology and multiple types of support for other equipment, a large area for an audience to gather, all in a beautiful rustic warehouse look. That’s why many esports events in Paris occur at this location. Among them is the Ultimate Fighting Arena 2022, held just this year with a prize pool worth 35,000 Euros. With Melty Blood: Type Lumina being key among the titles.

Figure 1-2. Melty Blood: Type Lumina Gameplay

Melty Blood: Type Lumina is the remake of one of esports most beloved series. It features a  whole new combat system that manages to feel the same as the last one while having a plethora of quality-of-life improvements. These come in quicker combo triggers and faster cancels and parries. This might not seem like much to the average player, but in high-level play, every frame matters. And despite its low entry bar, it is by all accounts a game made to be played in esports tournaments, as only pro players can bring out the combat system's true potential. This is primarily why it is played in so many games. It is also most famous in Japan and France, as the developers from these countries.

Figure 1-3. UFA Banner

Figure 1-4. Location of Châteauform' Les Docks de Paris (France, Aubervilliers)

HyperX Arena Las Vegas

Figure 2-1. UFA HyperX Esports Arena

Las Vegas is probably America’s most infamous state, right after Texas, as it houses the most casinos and is known as the place to go for a night out. It is the last place that comes to mind when one thinks of esports, but to the surprise of many, it houses one of the most advanced and hi-tech arenas in the states called HyperX Esports Arena. Not only does it has dedicated areas for every type of esport genre, but it also has a massive lobby for people to gather and watch players play. All this while also having dedicated gaming rooms people can rent to have LAN parties or play together. Many different tournaments are also held here, some of which are weekly in nature, like KNOCKDOWN! A local tournament is held each week for players to gather and test themselves against others. It also has a prize pool that starts at $250 and goes up to $1000. One of the games played at the tournament is Guilty Gear Strive.

Figure 2-2. Guilty Gear Strive Gameplay

Guilty Gear Strive, by all accounts, maybe the conclusion of Arc System Works’ beloved series. It has the best 2D fighting system and is a finale to many of the plotlines and character stories built up in the previous games. Combat has been perfected, as every previous mechanic has been improved while adding new ones like a reversal. The character roster is also quite good, featuring many familiar faces with new ones. Game balance is maintained like before, as each character is fun to play and doesn’t feel overpowered. All these factors guarantee its place as one of the best 2D fighters for esports.

Figure 2-3. KNOCKDOWN! Information

Figure 2-4. Location of UFA HyperX Esports Arena (USA, Las Vegas)

Michelob ULTRA Arena - Mandalay Bay

Figure 3-1. Michelob Ultra Arena Venue

Las Vegas is also home to one more esports arena, and to many, this might be the most well known as anyone who is a fan of EVO or has seen EVO knows about it, Michelob ULTRA Arena. It is the primary image that comes to many people’s minds when they think about esports, as it has held some of the iconic tournaments and is home to the most iconic esports moments. All this is due to the nature of the arena, which is built like an auditorium where people can easily see the players duke it out for the title of the best of the best. EVO Championship takes place here, and they spare no expense when utilizing the arena while offering a massive prize pool starting from $10,000 to $100,000 for some games. And one of the most beloved titles played at EVO is Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Figure 3-2. Dragon Ball FighterZ Roster

With due reason, Dragon Ball FighterZ is the most flushed-out and complete Dragon Ball experience you will ever get in a game. It doesn’t have the Budokai's jank or the Xenoverse bugs. It is a simple, fast-paced 2D fighter with an extremely high skill ceiling. Featuring a roster of over 40 of the most iconic characters from Dragon Ball while recreating some of their iconic moves. All this makes it so that online and competitive battling goes off without a hitch.

Figure 3-3. EVO Championship Banner

Figure 3-4. Location of Michelob Ultra Arena Venue (USA, Las Vegas)