Gamers flock to unique event in Raleigh that promises economic boom
THAN 1500 ACRES.
THEY CAME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS
SOUTH CAROLINA TO HELP.
>>> A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL
GAMING COMPETITION IS IN
RALEIGH THIS WEEKEND, THE FIRST
OF ITS KIND.
16 TEAMS ARE COMPETING FOR
$500,000 IN CASH.
THEY WILL BE PLAYING THE
POPULAR VIDEOGAME CALLED
RAINBOW SIX DEEDS.
DICTATORS WILL BE AT THE
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER TO
WATCH ALL THE FUND.
DARRELL THOMAS IS LIVE IN
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH AND I CAN
IMAGINE THIS HAS A HUGE IMPACT
ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AREA.
>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY, THIS
GAMING EVENT IS SOLD OUT.
FOLKS FROM THE GREATER RALEIGH
CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
ARE EXPECTING MORE THAN 3000
PEOPLE EACH DAY TO GO THROUGH
THOSE DOORS. YOU HAVE TO THINK
THAT THE SAME PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BE VISITING NEARBY
RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.
THEY CAN BRING HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THE
CITY OF RALEIGH.
THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD --
>> SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA.
>> WE ARE FROM BRAZIL.
>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF
GAMERS UNITE OF THE RALEIGH
CONVENTION CENTER.
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AND THEY
WILL BE WATCHING 16 TEAMS OF
OTHER GAMERS PLAY THE GAME
RAINBOW SIX SIEGE.
>> IT'S 14, FIVE VERSUS FIVE
AND YOU GET TO CHOOSE DIFFERENT
OPERATORS.
>> THINK OF A SWAT TEAM, THE
WAY THEY INVADE A BUILDING.
ESSENTIALLY ONE TEAM IS ON
ATTACK, THE OTHERS ON DEFENSE.
>> Reporter: WHAT IS SO COOL
ABOUT WATCHING PEOPLE PLAY
VIDEO GAMES?
>> I THINK IS COMPARABLE TO
GOING TO A MUSEUM AND LOOKING
AT ART.
>> I THINK IS EQUIVALENT TO
WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME.
>> Reporter: THE EVENT SOLD OUT
IN A WEEK.
PEOPLE FROM 43 STATES, SIX
CANADIAN PROVINCES AND A HOST
OF INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES ARE
IN TOWN.
MORE THAN 300 PLAYERS STAYING
AT HOTELS IN THE RALEIGH AREA
ARE EXPECTED TO GENERATE
REVENUE FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
>> AROUND THE CORNER THERE IS A
MEDITERRANEAN PLACE.
>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NOTICE
AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BECOMING
INTERESTED IN E-SPORTS.
>> Reporter: THE CITY WILL HAVE
AN IDEA OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT
ONCE THE EVENT ENDS THIS
WEEKEND.
TOMORROW IS THE SEMI FINALS AND
THEN ON SUNDAY FOLKS GET TO
WITNESS WHO WILL WIN THE
$500,000 PRIZE.
GERALD, I CAN TELL YOU THAT
WITH ALL THIS MONEY AT STAKE IS
MAKING ME WANT TO PLAY VIDEO
GAMES.
>> IT'S LIKE WATCHING ART IN