Creating an engaged community isn’t easy, but the City of High Point in North Carolina is making it look easy! Throughout three seasons of esports programming on the Mission Control platform, the City of High Point has maintained 85% active participation among their players. We touched base with the city’s assistant recreation center supervisor, Nathan Long, to discuss his experience with Mission Control from an administrator’s perspective.
Q: Why did you choose Mission Control?
A: “We always intended on gravitating towards the world of Esports. With the pandemic hitting, it kind of fast forwarded our process of evaluating the Esports market. Throughout my initial evaluation and research process Mission Control kept popping up or being recommended. Once I had the time to sit down and really look into Mission Control, they checked every box that we were looking for as far as starting up and running a successful Esports program. It was an easy choice for us.”
Check out Mission Control’s “Convince Your Boss” guide to learn more about the benefits of parks and recreation departments establishing recreational gaming communities.
Q: What have you done to make your organization unique or successful?
A: “We partnered with a local non-profit youth organization, which has allowed us to not only offer Esports to our city and surrounding area but it has also given us a direct line to connecting to our youth. This has allowed us to be creative with our advertising as well as offer some exciting prizes for participation in our leagues.”
Q: How has your partnership with Mission Control aided in your success?
A: “Partnering with Mission Control through Esports has given us an opportunity to reach members of our community who either have never participated or experienced what our department has to offer or have not been an active participant in a while and are coming back after a long-time away. We are seeing an influx of interest not only in Esports but also in other aspects and programs within the department that may not have been reached by the participants otherwise.”
Q: How has your organization become more connected since offering esports programming?
A: “Since introducing esports into the department and community, it has allowed us the opportunity to present more virtual programming outside of esports into the department and within the community. Also, as far as the employees go, we have now built a small community of gamers in our department. Some were mild gamers or had no gaming experience at all, but once we started the esports program, they have become more interested in gaming which in turn has helped us promote and grow the program.”
Q: What advice would you give other organizations using Mission Control?
A: “It is definitely worth the investment. Both platforms (app and admin) are very user friendly. Communication between the organization and the mission control staff is top notch. Whatever questions, suggestions, or help you have they will be there to receive and respond in a timely and professional matter. They are set-up to help you succeed.”
Q: How many games did you offer in your first season? How many players joined? If you have offered multiple seasons of programming since joining the Mission Control platform, please share how many games you offered each season and how many active participants did you have?
A: “Our first season we offered 2 games with 25 joining. Since then, we have had 2 additional seasons with 3 games offered and around 45 to 50 active participants at an 85% active participants' rate.”
In conclusion, Nathan adds that “bringing esports to our area has given members of our community an avenue to reach out, communicate, and stay in touch with friends and family while having fun and enjoying gaming during this pandemic. A couple participants noted that having these leagues and seasons available during this time has brought back a love for gaming that they can see themselves continuing on post pandemic.”
