Wide reach, big stages—but structures that are sometimes patchy: Paris is therefore making eSports a city issue. With political backing, the metropolis is positioning itself as Europe’s new powerhouse in competitive gaming.
The eSports industry is based on a paradox. It is established and globally recognized, yet financially fragile. Paris believes it can change that by making eSports visible and tangible, and anchoring it throughout the cityscape. With passionate, mostly digital communities at its core, eSports thrives primarily on online platforms, yet at the same time craves physical interaction. Convincing investors, stakeholders, and institutions of this industry remains a challenge. Even as its reach grows.
Major international events require vision, infrastructure, and political will—qualities that few cities fully embrace. And that’s despite the fact that, according to Grand View Research, the global eSports market is estimated to be worth more than $2.1 billion by 2024.
Paris is not shying away from this complexity. The city is embracing it.
“There are almost twelve million consumers and/or players of eSports in France,” says Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor for sports under Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and president of the Paris tourism office Paris je t’aime.
In a country with a population of around 68 million, this means that more than one in six people come into contact with eSports. According to Rabadan, these consumers and players make up “23 percent of Internet users aged 15 and over” – a figure that makes France one of the leading eSports markets in Europe.
This participation gives eSports a cultural weight comparable to that of traditional sports. And it explains why Paris is always the first choice for major international tournaments.
The City of Lights has always seen itself as an interface between culture and innovation. Esports is one of the latest manifestations of this aspiration: hosting esports events is therefore a logical continuation of a long tradition of hosting major global events. “The goal is to make the capital a leading location for this industry and establish it as the European benchmark for esports,” says Rabadan.
This perspective is also shaped by Rabadan’s leadership role in organizing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. According to the sports director, these games would have underscored the city’s ability to “host major sporting events of exceptional magnitude.” This inevitably puts Paris in the spotlight for possible future Olympic Esports Games.
After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ended its partnership with Saudi Arabia, “the IOC is currently exploring a new approach and a new partnership model.” This could open a window of opportunity for cities like Paris to contribute their expertise—and possibly become hosts themselves.
“The question of Olympic Esports Games is primarily a matter for the International Olympic Committee,” Rabadan explains. “But Paris would of course be thrilled to host this event – provided that the concept is compatible with the city’s values.”
Dedicated task force for eSports event bids
This self-image shows that esports in Paris is not merely a response to public interest. It is supported by strong local and national politics – which provide the necessary will, resources, and coordination to realize ambitious bids. Above all, this ensures that a young, highly networked community is involved both locally and digitally.
This approach follows deliberately created structures. In May 2023, the City of Paris and the Paris je t’aime tourism office launched their own task force to provide targeted support for bids for major eSports events.
According to Rabadan, this network brings together venue operators, industry representatives, hotel partners, and public institutions. The goal is to offer organizers concrete assistance—from iconic venues to accommodation and fan zones to citywide activations. Visitor numbers show that these measures are working.
“Major eSports competitions in Paris attract audiences comparable to many traditional indoor sporting events, with high attendance rates depending on the popularity of the games,” says Rabadan. “For example, the Counter-Strike Major 2023 attracted 50,000 spectators to the Accor Arena.”
To put this into perspective, that’s almost 70 percent of the capacity of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, where the 2024/25 DFB Cup final was held in front of around 74,000 fans.
While traditional sporting events achieve similar on-site figures, eSports have an additional factor: a “massive” digital audience that is “often significantly larger” than for traditional sports. Rabadan points to 1.5 million simultaneous viewers at the CS:GO Major 2023 in Paris.
It is precisely this double reach that changes the equation for host cities.
Rabadan admits that there is currently no reliable data on the economic impact of eSports events. However, the image boost is undeniable. Every major tournament “significantly enhances the international visibility of Paris” as a forward-looking metropolis with particular appeal for young, connected target groups.
At the same time, the lack of regularity of many eSports events makes it difficult to build long-term partnerships, says Rabadan. Unlike fixed leagues or franchise systems, the venues and time periods change frequently. This makes planning complex. Nevertheless, Paris is “very committed” to establishing lasting partnerships with event organizers, emphasizes the sports director.
“For example, we worked with Riot Games to set up a social ticketing program that enabled 340 young people to attend the Valorant Champions Finals last October free of charge. In addition, gaming chairs were donated to the Maison de l’Esport after the event,” says Rabadan.
eSports fits seamlessly into Paris’s aspiration to not only accompany cultural change, but to drive it forward. By embracing competitive gaming as entertainment and social practice, the city is cementing its status as a modern global sports metropolis. With the understanding that the future of events is as digital as it is physical. And as inclusive as it is entertaining.
