Esports buffs: the perceived role of fans and fandoms in U.S. collegiate programs.

Introduction: Collegiate esports-organized competitive gaming-has expanded rapidly in the United States, drawing in student players, broadcasters, and support staff, as well as university employees. Universities have invested financially in esports, hoping to capitalize on gaming fandom to attract prospective students and enhance campus community integration. Little research, however, addresses collegiate esports fandom in depth.

The COVID Season: U.S. Collegiate Esports Programs' Material Challenges and Opportunities During the 2020-21 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, universities were among the first institutions to shift to an online model. As they did so, nascent collegiate esports program lost access to campus spaces and in-person connections, potentially destabilizing this rising industry. Conversely, universities also worked to provide students remote access to resources, and many components of esports already occur online.