Introduction
Since most people I know and meet do not know much - or anything at all - about what Esports actually is, they can’t even imagine what day-to-day work looks like. I’ve probably had over 100 conversations about what it is I do (or did, lol) at this point. The elevator pitch for Esports is actually quite hard, and since I know many people who follow the scene still have absolutely no idea what people who are ‘working’ in Esports, specifically on the team side, actually do, I wanted to write this post.
Most other jobs in organizations are comparable: a video editor edits videos, a social media manager manages social media accounts, etc. And most of that isn’t specific to Esports.
To those who do know Esports and follow it closely, it can feel like a dream job filled with gaming, celebrity players, travel, and flashy events. However, the day-to-day reality is far from that glamorous image fans might imagine. Yes, Esports can be exciting, but it’s also very boring due to administrative-heavy tasks, physically demanding, and oftentimes extremely chaotic. This post is my attempt to demystify what it really means to work behind the scenes in Esports Management.
My Journey into Esports
It all began with playing video games (wow!). I had my first experience with Esports in the early Counter-Strike days (1.3–1.6), back when people still went to LAN parties (sadly, I was too young!). I competed in ESL, watched competitive matches on HLTV, and had a general idea of what Esports was and how it worked. I lost touch for years and came back in the early 2010s when Esports had its ‘breakthrough’ with Dota 2, CS:GO, and LoL. It felt like something I knew from the past, and I was really happy that competitive gaming became a thing again.
Twitch certainly accelerated Esports, and I don’t think it gets enough credit for what it did for the entire industry in the early 2010s. It felt new, exciting, and fun. I met a lot of people in the Dota 2 scene through the community and learned about Team Management and the challenges that come with it.
Eventually, I found myself in the Bundesliga club Schalke 04 and in the LoL scene, where I managed young, unknown nobodies like Caedrel, Upset, and Memento (look where they are now!). Later, I joined EXCEL (now GiantX) in the LEC and then Rogue here in Berlin.
The Start-Up-Like Reality of Esports Organizations
Fans often only see Esports teams during competition or through carefully curated content, which can skew public perception. Those who have followed the space closely have seen bad orgs, bad management, scams, and more—so it’s probably clear that things aren’t always as they seem.
Resources are often limited, processes can be non-existent, and teams can be split across various cities and even countries, making it hard to be efficient. Berlin—home of the LEC and VCT—is the Esports capital of Europe, with many well-known organizations having permanent offices or headquarters here. You’ll also find many dedicated and talented individuals who handle everything from team management and content production to logistics and administration.
This structure can be liberating because there is a lot of room for innovation and personal growth, although that depends heavily on the organization. However, it’s definitely very chaotic and exhausting. Weekends and public holidays do not exist; you have to abandon those concepts. Tasks and responsibilities often shift overnight, and everything has to happen instantly—even on short notice. You learn very quickly that flexibility and adaptability are among the most important soft skills in this environment.
The Day-to-Day Grind
Administrative Work
As previously mentioned, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Most of the time isn’t spent hanging out with pro players or playing in the studio. In reality, much of a day can be spent on tasks such as:
- Coordinating player visas, work permits, and health insurance
- Dealing with the office, apartments, and associated paperwork
- Handling administrative tasks related to the company
- Coordinating with outside service providers and vendors
- Staying on top of league administration and changes
- Cleaning and taking out the trash (yes, really)
None of this is particularly glamorous. It’s the small things that keep a team—or an entire organization—running. If you don’t do it, there’s usually nobody else who will, so it’s up to you to get it done. Doing this kind of “cleaning up” for years on end and feeling like nothing more than a glorified janitor can be depressing, so be aware.
Physical Demands
It’s not your typical office job. You can end a day with 20k steps without even noticing because you have to go places, do things, and run various mundane errands on your feet.
Coordinating with Riot Games
Working in an officially franchised league means closely collaborating with Riot Games. Their regulations, schedules, and updates can change quickly, so you have to stay on top of communication. Whether it’s a sudden patch change that affects the competitive meta or a special demand that needs specific approval, you’re constantly negotiating between your organization’s priorities and Riot’s rules.
Luckily, Riot Games—especially here in Berlin—has some of the most capable people I’ve ever worked with, and without their support, life would be even more miserable. Many of the folks who’ve been there for years are the unsung heroes of the LEC, and they don’t get nearly enough credit for their work. While it can be demanding or annoying at times, you can always count on them to support you if you’re on the team side.
Player Management
This could be an entire post on its own (maybe it will be one day). Players are often living in a foreign country for the first time, away from family and friends. They’re young, and combined with newfound fame and the pressure to perform, this can pose unique challenges. As a manager, you’re part mentor, part coordinator, and part problem-solver. You can be a friend but also an enemy, and you have to strike a balance between what players/coaches want and what the organization needs. It’s probably the aspect of the job that seems easiest but is actually the hardest and requires the most experience to do well.
The Challenges (and Rewards) Behind the Curtain
Conflicting Interests
Organizations have their own goals and strategies, sponsors have their own vision, Riot has rules to uphold, and players/coaches have their own needs. Balancing these can lead to friction and stress. It’s not uncommon to be stuck in the middle, trying to find compromises that keep everyone happy.
Fast-Paced Changes
The Esports world moves quickly. A yearly decision to change the entire structure and format of the league, a meta shift, roster changes, or sponsor demands can derail even the best-laid plans. If you thrive on spontaneity, this can be exciting. If you prefer predictable, structured days, you might find it overwhelming.
Passion vs. Reality
Many people are drawn to ‘working in Esports’ by passion and the clout. However, the daily reality can be the opposite: it comes with a lot of stress. It’s important to acknowledge that it’s still a workplace, one that comes with office politics, deadlines, and constraints like any other job.
Final Thoughts
‘Working in Esports’ has been fun. I enjoy having fun, and I mostly enjoyed getting up in the morning to go to work, which is more than I can say about some of my other jobs. You need a love for competition and a competitive spirit to truly enjoy this role. It requires resilience, flexibility, and a willingness to handle tasks that might seem mundane to outsiders.
For anyone aspiring to break into the scene, remember that the drive that brought you here—your love for the game, the community, and competition—has to coexist with acceptance of the unglamorous and, frankly, ugly side of ‘working in Esports.’
The industry continues to evolve, and as it does, so will the job description. An ever-shifting gaming landscape, fluctuating viewer numbers, and corporate interests can make it hard to predict where things will go next. While the day-to-day grind can be intense, the payoff is seeing the players you work with win and thrive on a global stage, knowing you played a part in making it happen—no matter how small or behind-the-scenes it may be.