Donohue tells me that even in the 2k22 mt last three years, or the three seasons in which I have been talking are vastly different than what they were prior to when the league started. Kirk Lacob, Warriors Assistant GM, recently said to me that esports was "absolutely getting more mature".
Donohue talks about the benefits of a league that is operated from the NBA office when it comes to recruiting partners. "The benefit of being the NBA 2K brand is that we have fantastic connections with a number of these partners and therefore we are able to aid them in their efforts to help them navigate eSports and help them understand how they can tap into eSports as a fantastic way to build their brand."
Another benefit companies that the NBA 2K League has, is that the sport is a game that's well-known. Donohue says that esports could sometimes be a challenge for people. "You don't need to play in order to enjoy our games. If you understand basketball then you'll understand it," Donohue says.
It's also not uncommon to see advertising within the game. Donohue states that it's common to watch the basketball game on courtside advertising. This allows participants to "be part" of the online experience.
With a loyal fan base, with a passionate fan-base, the NBA 2K League has established itself as a viable and profitable product. Donohue claims that "we feel like...we're just scratching the surface." He points out the enormous potential for 1.9 billion NBA 2K League fans on social media.
Then there's the question about the possibility that NBA 2K can operate as an opportunity for the new fans in basketball generally as Washington Wizards owner and media mogul Ted Leonsis has theorized. In actual fact, Donohue has his own example, rather closer to home. "My own son, when playing 2K when he was playing, then all of a sudden you see him coming up to me telling me about the Warriors roster and talking about Steph Curry. And I'm thinking what's the reason he's staying up till 10 pm at evening to observe these games, even though he's seven is that right? It's all through 2k he's learning about the game and judging according to their 2K ratings."
Donohue claims this demonstrates the "transformation" in the way young people consume content and how that is evolving. The NBA is learning about these new crowds and what they're seeking. "The most significant difference between Esports that I've noticed compared to traditional sports is the voice of the fan, or the power of the player" Donohue says.
Twitch chat features on Twitch broadcasts are a good illustration of this. "The Twitch chat is constantly running and we're watching that for sure to keep our eyes on our viewers, but it's also an ideal tool to receive feedback right away, and then we're making adjustments to our broadcasts... we're talking about "hey the viewers want this angle, and they want this behind the scenes content." When we make those changes and we give fans credit for their feedback and they're loving it." That taps into the Donohue's assertion cheap mt nba 2k22 that it's "almost becoming a demand of younger consumers. The expectation is that you're actively watching."
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