Esports to be included in future Parks & Rec programming

“We’re really excited to partner with everyone from Parks & Rec … down to local schools,” said NSG’s manager of local partnerships Taryn McCarty. “But most importantly, it’s a safe place for kids to come in and say, ‘Hey, I’m interested in this. How do I start competing in this? And get those resources and materials they might not otherwise get.”

McCarty said she wants The Block to offer increased accessibility to high-end PCs and high-speed internet, both of which she hopes will hopefully break down barriers to entry into the esports world, and offer more diversity in a space that desperately lacks people of color. Gamers at The Block will either pay by the hour to use NSG’s consoles (PCs are $5/hour), or pay a $20/month subscription service.

“There are multiple colleges that offer scholarships for kids,” McCarty said. “So maybe that kid in North Philadelphia who never thought about going to college has an opportunity to do so, or is thinking a little bit differently about the esports industry in general.”

NSG expects The Block to be open to the public this summer.

Parks & Rec is eyeing a long term partnership with NSG, and commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell envisions many more esports offerings in the future, including a number of educational opportunities for kids to get more experience using high-end technology.

“We look forward to working with them to pioneer what’s possible with esports and traditional recreation,” she said. “We’re one of the first parks and recreation departments to embark on this type of partnership nationally … I think the sky’s the limit in terms of what we can do to benefit the young people in Philadelphia.”

Esports and gaming have rapidly increased in popularity in recent years, transforming into a valuable worldwide entertainment industry around the world. It’s projected to be worth over $1.5 billion in just a few years, thanks to explosions in esports investments like that of NSG. Gaming-specific streaming platforms like YouTube Gaming and Twitch allow fans a direct connection to players and teams.

Many of the specific details of the partnership between NSG and Parks & Rec are still being developed, but they expect to roll out more official announcements in the coming months.