Would you believe: ESports coming to Barclays Center

A Barclays Center press release, Barclays Center and ESL team up for the biggest esports event on the East Coast, October 1–2, describes how watching online gamers can be a big deal:

ESL, the world’s largest esports company, will bring the East Coast’s largest esports tournament to Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, home of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders. The world-renowned venue will provide a stage for ESL’s signature event series when ESL One New York takes to the arena on October 1 - 2, 2016. Barclays Center will play host to a US$250,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competition, with more games joining the tournament’s lineup to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament at ESL One New York will bring an intense two-day event to the stage. The world’s top eight CS:GO teams will converge on Brooklyn in a double elimination group stage, followed by single elimination best-of-three matches on the main stage. In addition to the tournaments, ESL One New York will feature a wide array of activities as part of the main event, including pro player autograph sessions, virtual reality experiences, the ESL Shop, and other fan fest activities.

Among the younger generation, this is a thing. As ESL parent company Turtle Entertainment explains:

What makes competitive gaming a real sport? eSport combines abilities such as hand-eye-coordination, dexterity and reaction speed as well as tactical understanding. Players are organized in teams (so called clans) which take over the functions of associations and often are sponsored internationally.

NetsDaily noted that "ESports has become a top priority for" Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, whose CEO, Brett Yormark, has said also seeks a stake in companies running ESports.