Montréal is an experienced live sports events city, and now, fresh opportunities are coming via esports. Esports — aka electronic sports — represent the competitive playing of video games, either alone or in teams, in front of an online or live audience. As in traditional sports, there are tournaments, teams, coaches... and passionate fans! And as one of the world’s leading gaming industry destinations, Montréal is poised for esports greatness.
Esports by the numbers
In 2022, Newzoo estimated that global revenues from the esports industry had skyrocketed to US$1.38 billion, with a worldwide audience of 532 million people. In Canada alone, the esports audience is expected to reach 14.8 million by 2028. Now is the perfect time to develop esports tourism to its full potential, with specially adapted venues, a thriving community of local experts, and an ever-growing fan base.
Discover some of Montréal’s most iconic esports venues
Bell Centre
This adaptable, large-scale space has great sightlines and cutting-edge technology to ensure a perfect sound, comfort and amenities for any event, whatever its scope or size.
Maximum capacity: 21,273 people
Olympic Park, Stadium Hall
This impressive site in a historically significant location has stadium seating and a floor space that can be configured in multiple ways, from a stage to a banquet hall to dance floor.
Total event surface area: 77,000 sq. ft. (7,150 m2)
Palais des congrès de Montréal
Montréal’s convention centre is located right downtown, and is a BOMA BEST certified facility with 508 756 sq. ft. of event space and high tech equipment for every occasion.
Total event surface area: 508 756 sq. ft. (47 265 m²)
Auditorium de Verdun
The third-largest arena on the island, it features two ice rinks, each measuring 200 x 85 ft., which can be covered for large crowds.
Maximum capacity: 4,043 people
La Tohu
This circular performance hall is the first of its kind in Canada, and is equipped retractable and removable bleachers, and sound and lighting systems perfect for spectator events.
Maximum capacity: 1,200 people
A solid track record
The city has already made a solid foray into the field, with plans to capitalize upon it for constant growth. We’ve hosted a series of competitions and conventions, and are home to a network of local organizations that specialize in the field that can be a resource for you and your events.
Competitions
- Lan ETS 2025 (annually)
- BLAST R6 Major Montréal (2024)
- Gran Turismo World Series (2024)
- Six Invitational (2023, 2024)
- DreamHack Montréal (2019)
- Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) Montréal (2015)
Conventions
- Montréal International Games Summit (MIGS), an event focused on connecting industry professionals, including publishers, investors, developers and service providers within the video game industry(annually)
- Montréal Comiccon, a pop-culture fan convention that showcases sci-fi, horror, anime, video games, tabletop games, comic books, and everything in between (annually)
- Otakuthon, the second-biggest convention of its kind in Canada, celebrating the stories, characters and artistry of classic and cutting-edge Japanese anime, manga and more (annually)
- HUB Montréal, an event designed to enhance the promotion and growth of Montréal business in various creative ecosystems, including in the entertainment, cultural and the experiential marketing sectors (annually)
Organizations
- Esports Canada, a not-for-profit national body for competitive esports in Canada
- Fédération québécoise de sports électroniques, the only provincial esports federation in Canada
- La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec, a member-based guild that promotes Québec’s video game ecosystem through activities and programmes
With the right infrastructure, experience in the field, the ideal context and a built-in fanbase, Montréal is the perfect spot for your next esport event. Contact James Guilbaud at Sports Events Montréal now and start planning.
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