Ukrainian Professional Esports Association (UPEA) has introduced its strategy of esports development in Ukraine for the next five years, as well as its structure and key objectives.
UPEA intends to raise funds, develop streaming studios, open an “esports ready” hotel, increase the number of international tournaments, attract investments, and more.
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The Association plans to attract $100 million (GBP78.5 million) of investments, $42 million (GBP33 million) of which has already been made towards the purchase and development of the first ‘”esports ready hotel” on the infrastructure base of the ‘Dnipro’ Hotel. Another $20 million (GBP15.7 million) is planned to be invested into its reconstruction, according to a release.
Oleksandr Kokhanovskyy, Board Chairman for UPEA and Founder of Natus Vincere, said: “We want Ukraine to be among the world leaders, and today we have all chances to enter the TOP-5 countries with the most developed esports ecosystem.”
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The Association intends to officially declare esports as the second most popular discipline after soccer in the country, raise the number of annual international esports tournaments to 12, attract up to $20 million (GBP15.7 million) of investments into esports and gambling in Ukraine annually, establish esports streaming studios for the nation, and increase recognition of the term ‘esports’ in Ukraine from 4.5 percent to 11 percent.
In the future, the Association also plans to build a national esports arena for 10,000 people in the country’s capital, Kyiv city, and invest up to $1-1.5 million (GBP786,110-GBP1,179,165) annually for the development of the network of esports clubs, tournament support, and social projects and initiatives.
Esports Insider says: It’s good to see an association lay out its plans for the medium-to-long-term, proving that it’s in the industry for the right reasons and allowing people to hold it accountable for its future actions.