[NASL] Season 3 Grand Finals In Toronto! - Page 13

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to contribute my reflexions on the NASL finals in Toronto in a few weeks. This was prompted by my listening to the State of the Game ep. 72 VOD where JP talked mentioned the few disgruntled posters about it not actually taking place in Toronto but in Mississauga. While they were awkwardly trying to figure out if Ontario was a city or not and how far it is from Toronto, I began reflecting more so on it, as I too was disappointed to learn that it would take place so far from the downtown core.

For those not living in Toronto or who haven’t been there, the venue where the NASL finals will take place is situated next to the Pearson International Airport, which is located in Mississauga, a (rather large) suburb outside the city of Toronto. It will take place almost 20 miles (38 kms approx.) outside the downtown core of the city. It will essentially be held in the middle of nowhere, far from the densely populated sectors of the city.

My argument here will be that this is a missed occasion for esports in Toronto and in Canada. It assumes nonetheless that the event will be a great success, that people will have fun, and that, for those going, it will be a positive experience. I do argue, however, that it will have missed its target for promoting esports to an unknowing population basin, and it will give a lukewarm to negative experience to players and casters coming in from all over the world. In this sense, I believe it is doing a disservice to the esports community and to the Starcraft 2 community in Toronto.

Before continuing, this is not a rage against the NASL. I understand the nightmare that it is to coordinate and that logistics can be daunting. Having the event next to the airport will make it easier for the players, I understand. That is not the point. The point is to discuss the question of exposure and the “selling” of Canada as a great place to hold esports events.

First, the location severely amputates the exposure of esports to the greater population in Toronto. With such low population density and in a venue whose main focus is corporate events, I fear little to no people will actually walk next to the venue and discover Starcraft. Had it taken place in the downtown core, you have a few million people who will actively walk near the venue and be perplexed by what is taking place, either through billboards or other form of advertisement. In this sense, Starcraft would “invade” public space in Toronto and be talked about much more.

Currently, the area where the NASL finals will take place will not be able to seduce media attention as much as if it were at the U of Toronto or another venue where people work, eat and play. Having an event right near the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Global Television, City TV, TFO, Radio-Canada, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, etc. etc. would have helped to create a media buzz much that is better than most ad spots on any television station. Having access to players, casters and fans would help create better stories and better exposure for the sport. Having it next to the airport severely limits this possibility.

For casters and players, they will feel as though Toronto is just another suburban US city. Everything looks the same, nothing to note. In fact, they will likely not event set foot in the city of Toronto, unless they want to pay the $52 cab ride to go downtown, the hour and thirty minutes of transit, or take regional transportation which would be too much of a hassle to do. A downtown event would make players, casters and fans alike experience the city, have a sense for its culture, its food and its nightlife, giving them positive experiences, rather than a dull suburban cookie cutter experience. Tasteless said something today at the WCS UK in London about how he was so pleased for it to have been taken place in the “cool part of London”. He stated that, often, they cast in a place that is so far out from the city that it diminishes the experience. Those in “Toronto” will not experience the city.

I feel that the Greater Toronto Area is fortunate to have this event take place. I believe it is positive, and I’m glad. I do hope, however, that the next time around, these sorts of events will take place within the public space of the downtown core to help grow the sport and push it towards the mainstream, instead of holding it in the margins of the city and, in effect, keeping it in the margin of the media and society.

Nonetheless, I wish everyone a great time. I’m sure it’ll be a blast and I am looking forward to have another major tournament in Toronto.