Category Archives: esports

Rabobank and H20 unite youth in first esports stadium in the Netherlands

The Netherlands will soon have its first esports stadium. Rabobank and H20 will join forces in the coming three years to bring young people together in the Rabo Esports Stadium Amsterdam. In addition, the parties want to encourage innovation in creative tech startups and businesses. Rabobank Waterland en Omstreken and H20 esports announced this news today in Cologne during Gamescom 2019, the largest game fair in the world. 

Connecting young people and entrepreneurs together

Eric Zwart, Chairman of the Board of Rabobank Waterland en Omstreken:
"The world of the future lies open for young people at the Rabo Esports Stadium Amsterdam. The great thing is that we can connect young people here in real life. And in addition to gaming, H20 is strongly committed to education. Together we can teach the youth to game responsibly.
In addition, the esports stadium will provide business space for game- and tech-related companies. Because they can easily meet each other, it offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to come up with innovative plans together. For the Waterland region, as an important part of the Amsterdam metropolitan area, it can be a catalyst for economic growth. This, together with the strong support from the municipality and the education sector, makes us enthusiastic about our collaboration with H20. As our mission states, here we are really building a better world together for young people and entrepreneurs."

Esports to the next level in the Netherlands

Founder Dirk Tuip of H20 esports: "Internationally, esports has grown into a billion-dollar industry with professional teams, matches in sold-out stadiums, millions in prize money and also gaming clubs where visitors pay to play. We have great ambitions to make the Netherlands part of this industry.
We are therefore very proud that Rabobank dares to take this step with us. This is one of the first structural esports sponsoring deals. Hopefully it's a start and more large parties in The Netherlands will follow and embrace esports and gaming structurally. The next generation is waiting for it. More and more companies want to connect with this new generation, which is often also very tech-minded."

Rabo esports stadium Amsterdam

What is there to do in the esports stadium? Dirk Tuip: "We want all kinds of esports matches, tournaments and gaming events to be organised in the Rabo Esports Stadium Amsterdam. All necessary facilities are available, think of: broadcasting, a place for shoutcasters, a stage with players desks, play areas, etc. There is also a gaming club. This is comparable to a sports club, where you can improve your gaming skills individually or as a team with high-quality gaming gear, such as PCs and accessories. For more information, please visit www.h20.gg.

Frits Dix gets into esports and gaming and with that the financing of H20 esports is complete

Purmerend entrepreneur Frits Dix (Director of NMT Shipping) enters the world of gaming and esports through a participation in H20 esports BV. The ambitious plans of H20 esports thus become reality. The investment completes the financing of the first esports stadium in The Netherlands. The demolition of the current sports hall De Koogmolen at the Spinnekop 1-2 in Purmerend has been completed. The rebuilding is about to start. 

A new world, a new market

Frits Dix: "When I was approached by Matthijs Vink, one of the initiators, my interest was aroused immediately. Every day I see young people around me only on their mobile phones, on social media or for gaming. When I heard the plans, it was clear to me that this is not just a market that is growing fast. H20 (www.h20.gg) also offers great opportunities for young people in and around Purmerend and Waterland, which I also find very important. I also enjoy helping young entrepreneurs with the experience that I have gained as an entrepreneur.

Esports Stadium Amsterdam

Matthijs Vink (H20): 'Initially, we only focused on the campus next to the sports hall. On the ground floor of this campus we wanted to use esports and gaming elements as part of the campus. However, after a number of trips abroad, we saw several large gaming clubs and also stadiums where people come to watch competitive gaming (esports). From that moment on, we raised our ambitions and the sports hall fitted in perfectly. However, this was a big challenge financially. We then approached Frits Dix. He immediately reacted positively and that gave us the right move to continue. 

Developing the next generation

Matthijs continues: 'As time went on, the plans became better and more professional. Partly due to the input and experience of Frits. The beginning is always difficult. Certainly in this new world that still has to grow in the Netherlands. With the investment of Frits the financing of the esports stadium is now complete. In phase two of our business plan we will tackle the campus in the coming months. The focus is now on starting up the esports activities. Our mission is 'developing the next generation through gaming and esports'.

Esports jobs nearly doubled in first half of 2019

Esports jobs H20
Esports jobs are on the rise and the esports employment site, HitmarkerJobs.com, has made an attempt to chart that growth. The company found that global esports jobs grew by a whopping 185.7% in the first six months of 2019. An increase from 2,497 to 4,638 jobs compared to the first six months of 2018.
The infographic by HitmarkerJobs uses data from more than 7,000 esports jobs. It showed that the number of paid jobs in esports increased by 210.7% from 1,912 to 4,028 over the same time period. Paid opportunities also increased proportionally with a proportional increase of 10.21%, up from 76.64% to 86.85% overall. 
This information is interesting because it contains real data about a labour market that did not exist ten years ago and it helps to give potential e-sports players and employees a more realistic picture of how to build a career in e-sports.

In the USA

The number of sports careers in the US rose from 1,147 (45.95%) in the first half of 2018 to 2,586 (55.76%) in the first half of 2019. The state of California still dominates the US labour market, accounting for 61.10% of all US jobs, down slightly from 63.81% last year (2.71%).
Washington is second with only 7.66% of the share (-0.99% compared to 2018) and New York third with 5.92% (-1.43% compared to 2018). The 25- to 34-year-old age group now makes up just over half of all job seekers in the sports sector.
The sector appears to be maturing in terms of recruitment, as the percentage of 25 to 34-year-old job seekers rose from 44.52% to 52.45% to overtake the 18-24 age group (36.77%) as the most represented group.
"It is incredibly exciting to see so many jobs opening up in esports worldwide. Which means more and more people are getting the chance to turn their passion into a career." says HitmarkerJobs.com director Rich Huggan, in a statement. "We are grateful to play our part in this by giving jobseekers a definitive list of esports jobs and providing employers with talented staff. The numbers in our infographic show incredible growth in 12 short months."

Source: https://venturebeat.com/

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H20 in the news

Wednesday 29 May was the official launch of H20. After years of preparation, the world finally got to know about H20's great ambitions. Under the watchful eye of local, regional and national media, initiators Dirk Tuip and Matthijs Vink talked about the plans on behalf of Stichting H20. After the launch, the initiative was picked up by several media, including the AD. Below is an overview of the media items about H20 esports.

AD.nl

This is what the future 'game arena' for e-sports looks like
A former sports hall in Purmerend will be converted into a 'game arena' and will open its doors in the autumn for what is to become 'the Papendal for Esports & Gaming'.
H20 AD video

BNR Radio

BNR Radio interviewed Matthijs Vink.

Esports Club

Dutch esports campus H20 announced
An esports campus is coming to Purmerend. The former school building and the accompanying sports hall Regio College and De Koogmolen will be transformed into the H20 Campus, a project that should put The Netherlands on the map in terms of esports. Besides offering gamers the opportunity to develop themselves as professional players, the location also offers the possibility for large-scale events thanks to an arena. H20 also wants to help young people's passion to flourish in future work, whether in esports or any other field. Read more >>
Screenshot Tweet esportsclub about H20

Family sheet

Purmerend on the map of the gaming industry
Dirk Tuip, Matthijs Vink and Johan de Punder prepare for the future. The future of H20, the future of Purmerend and the future of our next generation. H20 will be the largest (10,000 m2) permanent gaming centre, tech campus and esports stadium in Europe. A place where students, startups and companies interact daily, learn from each other and get inspired. And before the end of the year, the doors of H20 will be opened. Read more >>

Greater Waterland

Largest permanent esports gaming centre of Europe 10.000m2 in Amsterdam Waterland
Europe's largest permanent gaming centre and esports stadium (10.000 m2) will be located in Purmerend (Amsterdam Waterland). After years of preparation the world may finally know about H20's big ambitions. Under the watchful eye of local, regional and national media, initiators Dirk Tuip and Matthijs Vink talked about the plans on behalf of Stichting H20. Read more >>

Leidsch Dagblad

Leidsch Dagblad H20 article
*Click on the article to enlarge the image.

Noordhollands Dagblad

New e-sports campus of H20 in Purmerend should attract around 100,000 visitors by 2020
Spinnekop H20 foundation cannot be denied ambition. The initiators want to open a centre for gaming, e-sports and creative tech in Purmerend and are counting on 100,000 visitors next year. Read more >>

Noordhollands Dagblad

Largest permanent esports and gaming centre in Europe coming to Purmerend
Big tournaments with lots of fans in the stands cheering on the fanatical gamers who in turn compete for fat prize pools. That is the world of gamers and esports. And Purmerend must become the esports and gaming Walhalla of Europe. Read more >> Or download the article as PDF here.

RTV Purmerend

Purmerend gets accommodation for online gaming and international game competitions
The renovation of sports hall De Koogmolen, the site of the new gaming accommodation, will start in June and open its doors in October. The hall will offer Purmerend space for eSports; a place for online gaming and international game competitions combined with traditional sports such as table tennis, pool and air hockey. The hall will be the showpiece of Stichting H20, which will be opening an ICT campus in the adjacent school building on Spinnekop in January 2020. Read more >>

RTV Purmerend

Presentation H20 in sports hall the Koogmolen (video)
RTV video H20 presentation

New Volendam

The weekly magazine in the municipality of Edam/Volendam could not stay behind either. Here the piece by Eddy Veerman about esports and gaming stadium in Edam / Volendam.

piece in NIVO Edam / Volendam about Esports and Gaming Centre

Mega $100 mln prize pool in e-sports