This article features the audiovisual industry’s role in this dramatic trilogy — and serves as a polite wake-up call to the industry and manufacturers.

Every great movement in history eventually hits that awkward moment when the hype train pulls into the reality station. Esports is no different. Once the underdog of digital entertainment, it’s now being embraced by schools, colleges and the big, bad world of professional business.

So here’s the inconvenient question no one wants to tackle:

Can esports actually sustain itself in K-12 education, higher education and the pro scene?

If you’re in the audiovisual (AV) industry, pay close attention. We’re not playing a game here. Sustainability is the goal. We must get this right — and we need to do our part with excellence so our clients and their students can excel. Here’s the wake-up call: If this sector crumbles, it’s not just an upset for players — it’s a vertical loss for integrators, manufacturers, consultants and even that one guy who insists on putting a 2-by-2 video wall in a 10-by-10 room.

Let’s explore this like a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) in a three-lane game. In this version, each lane is a different market sector — and each one’s trying not to get ganked by budget cuts, burnout and broadcast licensing.

Lane 1: K-12 Education — The Spawn Point of Dreams (and Fire Drills)

In the K-12 world, esports is like that overachieving student trying to take several AP courses while still topping the leaderboard in Rocket League. The enthusiasm is high. The structure? Not so much.

Schools are jumping in with Chromebooks and dollar-store routers, convinced esports alone will teach STEM, CTE, teamwork, leadership — and maybe even how to defeat Thanos. You know what? They’re not totally wrong. If approached correctly — with clear learning paths, comprehensive curriculum, strong coaching and a power outlet that doesn’t trip when someone microwaves their lunch — K-12 esports can be a sustainable way to teach key skills and engage students who might otherwise be lost between gym and science class.

But we can’t keep putting out fires due to improper design, misunderstood purpose and unclear goals. Fire drills are necessary, but they’re meant to happen occasionally. Daily learning shouldn’t feel like an emergency. We need to help this sector plan appropriately, so they can make the most of their esports learning opportunities. The AV industry has a superpower here: We can help them make their dreams come true. Let’s set this sector up for long-term, sustainable success.

AV implications:

For integrators and manufacturers, this is a long play. Forget six-figure gear lists. Focus on scalable, flexible AV systems — think budget-friendly competition stations, modular broadcast kits and user-friendly control interfaces that don’t require a systems engineer to operate.

This sector lays the foundation. It’s where digital skills, media literacy and career interests like broadcasting, game development and IT begin. For the AV industry, the opportunity isn’t just selling tech — it’s helping create pipelines into workforce training, certification and industry-aligned learning.

Sustainability:

The potential is real. The path forward is smarter: focused curriculum and clear goals. Someone needs to update the firmware — and that someone is us. Sustainability begins with mindset.

Lane 2: Higher Education — Where Esports (Often) Majors in Identity Crisis

Colleges and universities have embraced esports with the zeal of a freshman discovering free pizza. From multimillion-dollar arenas to scholarship programs, higher ed wants a slice of the esports pie. The problem? Sometimes that pie costs $3 million in AV gear and doesn’t come with a shoutcaster who knows what game is being played.

Let’s be clear: Esports in higher ed can be sustainable. The secret sauce? Align it with academics, workforce development and — dare I say — real jobs. This is not the time for an identity crisis. Schools must be clear about their purpose, track and student outcomes. Students need confidence in the programs they choose — and schools that treat esports as a legitimate career pathway (not a novelty sideshow) are the ones playing the long game.

AV implications:

This is where AV must shift from hardware delivery to integration design and experience. We’re not building “game rooms.” The goal is interdisciplinary ecosystems that blend live production, digital media, IT networking and user-centric design.

Modern programs want:

• Flexible broadcast rooms with ST 2110, IPX and AVoIP support
• Dynamic lighting and video walls that double as instructional tools
• Audio systems that support gameplay, shoutcasting and streaming
• Control systems a student intern can operate without a 300-page manual

Colleges that understand esports as academic and career prep will drive demand for AV systems that do more than power tournaments. They’ll need labs, studios, classrooms and hybrid spaces.

Sustainability:

The tools exist. Now we need better long-term planning. The mindset must evolve beyond “win nationals.”

Lane 3: The Professional Scene — Where Dreams Go to Stream

Ah, the big leagues. Professional esports: the promised land of sponsorships, sold-out arenas and six-figure Twitch deals. Also: burnout, shallow investments and layoffs disguised as “creative restructuring.”

The pro scene has sustainability issues the size of a League of Legends patch update. Investors expected Netflix numbers — and got a PowerPoint full of “engagement” metrics. Teams run like startups: high volatility, zero profit, and a CEO who still plays Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) in the office.

AV implications:

For AV professionals, this is the endgame — but only if you understand esports workflows. These facilities must do it all: stream, run practice matches (scrims), provide live commentary (shoutcasting), replay, clip, edit, archive, monetize and occasionally serve as green-screen sets for commercial shoots — think Red Bull or major sponsors.

Designing for pro orgs? Your systems must include:

• IP-based audio and video routing
• Robust automation and failover systems
• Immersive lighting and FX (no migraines, please)
• Real-time integration with streaming software and analytics dashboards

In the pro scene, it’s not just about stunning installs — it’s about building scalable media infrastructure that survives turnover and drives ROI.

Sustainability:

Right now, it’s more glamour than grit. That needs to change. Sustainability demands maturity. It’s time to move beyond “hype as a business model” and focus on smart, future-forward goals.

A Note to AV Manufacturers: Play the Same Game as the Players

Let’s get real. Esports isn’t your traditional vertical — and it won’t survive on traditional product lines. This market demands low-latency video transport, gameplay-accurate audio, dynamic LED response and seamless integration with software-defined production platforms.

Too often, manufacturers enter the space with gear built for conference rooms. Meanwhile, players expect frame-accurate switching, zero-lag audio cues and displays that refresh faster than their mouse clicks.

Still pitching fixed I/O matrices or 60 Hz displays for esports? You’re missing the mark. Gamers don’t care about boardroom benchmarks. They care about how your system performs mid-match. Adapt your roadmap. Test systems under live gameplay. Collaborate with game publishers — not just resellers.

Want to win in this vertical? Build for the way players play, not the way your sales team presents.

Side Quest: Vertical Outcome or Vertical Collapse?

The AV industry has long lived off verticals: healthcare, higher ed, corporate, worship. Esports is the first true hybrid vertical — a market where content creation, education, performance and entertainment collide in one RGB-soaked package.

Here’s the catch:

• If K-12 fails to implement esports with purpose, higher ed will lack talent.
• If higher ed flounders in relevance, the pro scene will suffer from a shallow talent pool.
• If the pro scene can’t stabilize, the entire esports pyramid collapses — and with it, AV’s vertical ROI.

If you treat esports as a flashy, one-off bid, you’ll miss the real opportunity: shaping how the next generation learns, creates, competes and communicates.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Respawn)

• K-12: Strong entry point. Needs planning, training and scalable systems for long-term engagement.
• Higher ed: Huge potential — if treated as a cross-disciplinary, career-focused program.
• Pro scene: Risky but rewarding. Needs infrastructure built for monetization and growth.
• Manufacturers: Ditch the conference room mindset. Build gaming-specific hardware and systems.

AV industry, are you up for the challenge?

Esports isn’t a trend — it’s a high-growth vertical influencing everything from classrooms to global events. Treat it like a one-off install, and you’ll miss the tournament. Build it like a pipeline, and we win the whole bracket.

That’s the mindset we need. We’re a team. Let’s build this together — and win.

Can esports actually sustain itself in K-12, higher ed and the pro scene?
The short answer: Yes, it can.
The real question: Will we step up?

(If you’re looking for where to start, we built Platform 1 at Esports Integration as a ready-to-implement curriculum to help schools launch programs with purpose. info@esportsintegration.com.)