Playing video games all day is not just a phase, mom — it’s also a way to be a professional esports player in an industry that gave out ~$238 million in prize money in 2019.
Didn’t know you could make an actual living playing video games like Fortnite? We didn’t either — until we sat down with Caleb Smith, part of the father + son duo that owns Cary’s Contender eSports.
Sign at Contender Esports | Photo by RALtoday
Gaming stations at Contender Esports | Photo by RALtoday
History of the industry
Esports of today can trace its roots back to the 1980s when Atari held tournaments, Caleb said. Fast forward to 2012 + the industry really began to take off.
By 2019, the scene was reaching its peak with a total prize pool for the year of ~$238 million, according to Esports Earnings. The top player for 2019, a 29-year-old from Finland, made just over $3 million that year alone.
Kids playing games at Contender Esports | Image by RALtoday
How it works
Esports: aka the industry of competitive video game playing. Players of all ages can compete against one another, sometimes individually but most often in teams, in a range of different games at tournaments.
During down time between tournaments, players aren’t just taking a break. They spend hours on hours practicing with their team or by themselves, Caleb said.
“It's like practicing any sport. You do film study, you watch other people play,” he said. “People think you're just playing games all day but no, you're doing specific things to help improve and strengthen your skills.”
Esports in the Triangle
The Cary franchise location of Contender Esports opened in October of 2020 + is one of the only gaming centers in the Triangle area.
Contender also hosts tournaments, and is sponsoring one at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel this month. The Triangle Throwdown event is taking place Sun., Oct. 24.
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Today
- Fall Charcuterie 101 | Mon., Oct. 4 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Loading Dock, Dock 1053, 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd. | $59 | Create delicious fall charcuterie while enjoying wine in this interactive workshop.
- Hive Tour | Mon., Oct. 4 | 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. | Frontier RTP, 600 Park Offices Dr. | Free | Check out bee hives in-person + learn about bees from the experts at Bee Downtown.
- Yoga in the Park | Mon., Oct. 4 | 6 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park | Free | In this all-level yoga class, practice strength + flexibility while surrounded by nature. 🧘
- Intro to Improv | Mon., Oct. 4 | 7-10 p.m. | ComedyWorx, 3801 Hillsborough St. | $200 | Learn the basic skills for short or long form improv in this 6-week course.
Tuesday
- The Carolina Hurricanes | Tues., Oct 5 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena | $19+ | Watch the Carolina Hurricanes play against the Nashville Predators at this exhibition game at home.
Plan Ahead
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow & Other Haunted Tales | Thurs., Oct. 14-Sun., Oct. 31 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Fletcher Opera Theater At Duke Energy Center For The Performing Arts, 2 E. South St. | $25+ | Live performances return in time for Halloween with Artistic Director Zalman Raffael's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Ⓟ
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
The Coley Group’s goal is to help homeowners sell their home fast and for the most money | Photo via TheColeyGroup.com
The Coley Group’s Compass Concierge program allows homeowners who are ready to sell make home improvements without worrying about the stress of additional costs + labor.
How it works: An agent works with homeowners to evaluate which services — like flooring, painting, or staging — can increase a home’s value the most. Then The Coley Group sets a budget for the project and works directly with vendors to make the improvements and get the house market-ready. Ⓟ
Weather
- 82º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Award
- Raleigh Convention Center was named one of EXHIBITOR Magazine’s 2021 Centers of Excellence — for the third year in a row. The list of 30 centers was chosen from applications of small, medium, and large convention centers located across North America. See Raleigh’s upcoming events here. 🏆
Open
- Zambrero, a Mexican fast-casual chain, opened a location in Cary’s Parkside Town Commons. The winner of a drawing held Sept. 29-Oct.13 will get free bowls or burritos for 1 year, and Zambrero will also give free bowls + burritos to the first 1,000 customers during its grand opening Oct. 23–24.
Drink
- Over the weekend, City Brew Tours launched its first Raleigh location. City Brew Tours will provide behind-the-scenes access to the brewing process and inner workings of local breweries, including Clouds Taproom, Compass Rose Brewery + Gizmo Brew Works. Cheers. 🍻
Arts
- The city is looking for an artist to design the 2021 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards certificate. Artists may submit their work samples by Fri., Oct. 22 for a chance to be featured. The winner will receive $1,000 + 3 finalists will be paid $150. 🖌️
List
- The Triangle is home to one of the best pumpkin patches across the US + Canada, according to a list released by Yelp. Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill was named a top spot based on data collected by Yelp. Pro tip: take a picture with a baby goat while you’re there. 🎃
Shop
- The parking lot of the former K&W Cafeteria in Village District is now being used to sell pumpkins + gourds. Local grower Shepherd’s Way Farms has moved their main retail location this year as their previous area in North Hills is experiencing development. They will sell Christmas trees + wreaths later this year. (Triangle Business Journal)
Biz
- A pair of industrial properties in Durham were sold for ~$66 million last week to a Chicago investor. The buildings are located east of RTP + account for 375,000 sqft of industrial space. The properties were completed last year as the latest phase of Patriot Park. (Triangle Business Journal)
Active
- Teens looking to sharpen their basketball skills can join a free basketball clinic at Saint Monica Teen Center. The Saint Monica Basketball Program starts Tues., Oct 5 for grades 6-8 and Thurs., Oct. 7 for grades 9-12. Register here. 🏀
Featured Job
- The Friends of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences is hiring a Retail Operations Associate to work 15-25 hours per week in museum stores, box office + the special exhibition. Learn more about the position and how to apply here. Ⓟ
Bond Park’s Pumpkin Flotilla is taking place on Fri., Oct. 29 around 6:30 p.m. You can participate by creating your own pumpkin for the event or just enjoy the ghoulish sight of pumpkins floating across the lake.
There will also be discounted boat rides for individuals who enter a pumpkin or dress in Halloween costumes. Learn more here.
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RAL current: Carly is taking an evening stroll through Historic Oakwood to check out Halloween decorations tonight + Laura is relating to the esports professionals thinking about how she has to convince her parents that posting about pretty cocktails on Instagram is, in fact, a real job.
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