Patrice Evra: ‘E-sports can be 10 times bigger than football’

RIYADH: Electronic sports can be “10 times bigger than football,” former Manchester United player Patrice Evra said at the New Global Sport Conference 2024 on Saturday.
Evra, 43, a UEFA Champions League and five-time Premier League winner with Manchester United, spoke as a panelist at the NGSC, a two-day conference being held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh.
The former left-back spoke at a session called “Becoming a Modern Sports Hero — Sports, Gaming and the Relentless Pursuit of Excellence” alongside Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, the Brazilian national who is a star Counter-Strike II player for FURIA Esports.
The session explored how modern-day sports stars have redefined excellence in their respective fields, and parallels between traditional sports and competitive gaming, delving into the mindset, dedication and strategies that propel each to the pinnacle of their careers.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NGSC, Evra said: “Without hesitation, e-sports can be bigger than football — e-sports can be 10 times bigger than football.
“This is the new generation. Don’t forget, old school, our parents didn’t let us play (gaming), so we couldn’t do it. This generation want gaming. It can be bigger than football 100 percent.
“You can see the fans in the arenas where all these gaming competitions happen, like at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh … It’s serious. Kids have time to play and love it.
“The professionals train eight hours per day; footballers train two, maximum three hours per day. It’s going to be so big.”
FalleN, 33, told the conference: “I started playing when I was a kid. I was part of the first generation who knew what e-sports could be. I’m very happy I pursued my dreams and very happy to be here now.”
The second edition of the NGSC, themed “The Future of Fandom,” is hosting more than 60 global speakers, 200 CEOs and 1,200 attendees.