Glendale, Ariz. – The city of Glendale is hosting a one-day national conference for gamers, coders, business leaders, developers and companies supporting the continuing growth of esports.

On Tuesday, February 7^th, industry and community leaders will gather in West-MEC’s administration building for a full day conference with several expert panels featuring leaders in the tech, esports, education and gaming industries. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and will conclude with a pitch competition focused on esports and gaming startups at Glendale’s Sports and Entertainment District.

Esports is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Watched by millions - esports events and tournaments are top of the list for universities, classrooms, and business sponsorship across America. This event will engage the robust valley ecosystem supporting Esports from k-12 and higher education professionals to industry experts sharing their knowledge and discussing the future of this leading-edge sport.

This event will provide in-depth insight into the esports audience, its benefits to business, the workforce pipeline and the economic impact of esports to communities. The industry is expected to grow at a rate of 29% in the next 5 years. Glendale is engaged with local leaders in this space to be a catalyst for economic growth in the future. Using its existing assets such as Desert Diamond Arena and State Farm Stadium along with its technology infrastructure to host major gaming events and build on the existing ecosystem within this growing industry.

North America’s leading esports journalist and content creator, Travis Gafford will be providing the keynote presentation “This is Why Your Kids Watch So Much YouTube- The Future of Entertainment,” focusing on how streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube are redefining how viewers consume media.

Other panels include: “The Future of Web 3.0 & Metaverse,” featuring Dan Munnerly and Heather Hasely from ASU’s Learning Future. While gaming leads the way in developing metaverse programs, brands in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing are exploring applications of metaverse technology. For the full day’s agenda visit: Full Agenda

The event will be hosted both virtually and in-person. For in-person registration visit: Advancing Esports

Participants wishing to attend virtually can register by visiting: Advancing Esports Streaming Registration

For this event Glendale worked in tandem with key leaders in the community such as the Sci-Tech Institute, West Valley Innovation Alliance, Arizona State University and Arizona Israel Technology Alliance.

About the City of Glendale

As the sixth largest city in Arizona, with a population of nearly 255,000, Glendale is a premiere destination to live, work and play. Glendale features premium entertainment and shopping opportunities and a growing list of signature companies. The city is also home to Luke Air Force Base and major defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Magellan Aerospace and Honeywell. Other major employers include Red Bull, Humana, Ball, Bechtel and Nestlé. Major, international manufacturers, Fortune 100 firms and luxury auto dealers to locally owned small shops and restaurants, Glendale provides the ideal location for businesses to arrive and thrive. Employers will also find access to robust and qualified talent pipelines, with six postsecondary educational institutions. State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale’s Sports and Entertainment District host hometown team the Arizona Cardinals, as well as mega events such as the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four. Camelback-Ranch Glendale is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. For more information about Glendale, please visit growglendale.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram