Edmonton welcomes Alberta's biggest esports event
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Gamers galore are in Edmonton this weekend, with top players hitting the keyboards and controllers for the biggest in-person Alberta esports event ever.
Gamers galore are in Edmonton this weekend, with top players hitting the keyboards and controllers for the biggest in-person Alberta esports event ever.
The Alberta Esports Expo begins Saturday at the Edmonton Expo Centre, bringing thousands of people from across the province to watch professional video game players compete.
The event is organized by the Alberta Esports Association (AESA) and features main-stage tournaments and panels from industry experts and community members.
"You come out, you meet people and find people with like interests," said Brad Jones, AESA co-founder and vice-president. "And you realize that there's people just like you in these communities and it's a great place to make friends."
He said the expo is designed to entertain and educate. Panels will cover a wide range of topics including cosplay, the business aspects of esports and discussions about gender minorities in the gaming industry.
And, with top players competing over the weekend, Jones said spectators can expect to get a good feel for what professional esports looks like.
"The bulk of the event is actually tournaments," he added. "But also there's going to be plenty of space to spectate, get involved, learn about the different communities that are making this happen and connect if you're maybe even hopeful for a future in esports."
