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05/04/2026
The Spring 2026 issue of EsportsNext is here.
Inside: how BLAST's Austin CS event drove $102M in economic impact, the ESTA Award winners redefining the industry, and the cities, companies, and builders setting the terms for what comes next.
Download your copy today at esportsta.org/magazine
04/09/2026
The next esports capital isn't waiting to be discovered — it's being built right now.
Drew Hays, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission, is taking the stage at EsportsNext — powered by GameSquare — to explore The Regionalization of Esports: why local markets are the next frontier of competitive gaming and how cities are turning regional advantages into global stages.
As the leader who helped establish Fort Worth as a nationally recognized sports destination — attracting 90+ events a year and hosting world-class competitions across the sports spectrum — Drew knows exactly what it takes to put a city on the map. Now he's bringing that playbook to esports.
📅 April 29–30 | Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
🎟️ Every ticket includes a 1-Day Pass to BLAST Premiere Rivals
Learn more & register → esportsta.org/esportsnext
04/09/2026
Esports didn't just grow — it built an entirely new world. And the best are still just getting started.
Jorrel Batac, Founder & CEO of SXNGA, is taking the stage at EsportsNext — powered by GameSquare — to explore The Evolution of Esports: how gaming culture's unique DNA — community, interactivity, and creator economies — is reshaping entertainment for a digital generation.
With 20+ years of ecosystem-building experience spanning gaming, education, and international governance, Jorrel brings a rare global lens to the conversation — one that goes beyond the highlights to examine the frameworks and cross-border alignment that make esports growth sustainable and scalable.
📅 April 29–30 | Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
🎟️ Every ticket includes a 1-Day Pass to BLAST Premiere Rivals
Learn more & register → esportsta.org/esportsnext
Esports doesn't just need more players. It needs what comes next — the educators, the programs, and the institutions building the pipeline from passion to profession.
The three Esports Scholastic Impact finalists are leading that charge.
Cleverlike Studios has 80 million+ content plays and two decades of work turning gaming skills into real career pathways — their "Game-based Creation" model is rewriting how schools approach esports education. PlayVS brought Gaming Concepts to 400,000+ downloads across 40+ countries, backed by peer-reviewed research proving esports improves student GPA and attendance. Syracuse University built the industry's most complete scholastic-to-career pipeline — a first-of-its-kind B.S. degree program, three world-class facilities, and a stage that hosts New York State's largest high school esports championships.
Join us at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 to find out the winners. Register today at esportsta.org/esportsnext.
205 million impressions. Campaigns localized across 5 countries. A podcast that bridges youth leagues and industry operators.
Meet the 2026 ESTA Esports Marketing Excellence Award finalists.
Electronic Arts — Apex Legends Global Series is redefining what global esports marketing looks like, city by city and culture by culture. FlyQuest hosted a funeral for the haters — and the "League is Dead" x Von Dutch collection sold out in under 24 hours. XP League Frisco brought broadcast-level production and a genuine content strategy to grassroots esports.
Join us at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 to find out the winners. Register today at esportsta.org/esportsnext.
Community isn't a metric. The 2026 ESTA Esports Community Engagement Award finalists prove it.
ASUS Republic of Gamers reaches 1,000+ collegiate institutions and tens of thousands of student-athletes as the official PC provider of three major collegiate esports organizations. Electronic Arts — Apex Legends Global Series brought 38,000 fans into a city-wide championship experience in Sapporo that turned pros into heroes and attendees into participants. Gold Star Gamers runs a 24/7 trauma-informed community for 3,500+ children of fallen military personnel — and their peer mentor model has saved lives.
Join us at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 to find out the winners. Register today at esportsta.org/esportsnext.
Three leaders. Three very different models. One award.
Meet the 2026 ESTA Esports Leadership Award finalists.
Brandon Tschacher built Wisconsin's esports ecosystem from nothing — no venture capital, no controversy, just community. Jeffery Harrison turned a single district program into Louisiana's first statewide scholastic esports federation. Jon Chapman scaled PlayVS to 68,000+ schools across North America and dismantled the barriers that kept underserved communities out of the game.
Join us at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 to find out the winners. Register today at esportsta.org/esportsnext.
The 2026 ESTA Industry Award finalists for Esports Innovation are here.
BETER's ESportsBattle Series has built a fast-format, PvP-only ecosystem running 35,000+ events a month with integrity infrastructure that rivals traditional sports. BlueBottle GmbH created LeagueBroadcast — the first tool to write data directly into the League of Legends game world during a live broadcast. GameSquare is proving what a publicly traded, vertically integrated esports business actually looks like: FaZe Esports, Stream Hatchet, and a platform that's built to last.
Join us at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 to find out the winners. Register today at esportsta.org/esportsnext.
04/02/2026
A sold-out fashion drop. A peer mentor who saved a life through gaming. A PhD who proved esports makes kids better students. A NASDAQ-listed esports company that actually turned a profit.
Meet the 2026 ESTA Esports Industry Award finalists - https://esportsta.org/2026/04/02/the-2026-esta-esports-industry-award-finalists-have-been-announced/
Join us at EsportsNext 2026 powered by GameSquare Holdings Inc. on April 29 to find out the winners.
The 2026 ESTA Esports Industry Award Finalists Have Been Announced - Esports Trade Association Winners will be revealed live at EsportsNext Powered By GameSquare on April 29 The Esports Trade Association is proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 ESTA Esports Industry Awards…
03/23/2026
Two days. The sharpest minds in esports business. One goal: Rival the Best. Rule the Best.
EsportsNext powered by GameSquare Holdings Inc. is where the industry's next moves get made — on stage, in sessions, and in every conversation in between. Publisher strategy, regional growth, venue development, global entertainment — and the people driving all of it, together in one room.
📅 April 29–30 | Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
🎟️ Every ticket includes a 1-Day Pass to Rivals
🔗 Learn more & register at esportsta.org/esportsnext
03/20/2026
Every dominant industry once had a rival that changed the rules. In entertainment, that rival is esports. 🏆
Steve Rossi, SVP of Brand Partnerships at BLAST, is taking the stage at EsportsNext — powered by GameSquare Holdings Inc. — to unpack The Evolution of Esports: how gaming's community-driven model is reshaping media consumption and rewriting the brand partnership playbook.
📅 April 29–30 | Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
🎟️ Every ticket includes a 1-Day Pass to BLAST Premiere Rivals
Learn more & register → esportsta.org/esportsnext
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