At the end of 2023, there have been many exciting events related to gaming, apps, esports, and sports. Barcelona hosted all of them in intense yet rewarding sessions. We've had the opportunity to hear from great specialists and note their very interesting comments on the latest trends in these areas.
This event held in Montjuic welcomed specialists from the complex world of apps. With a strong presence of companies and speakers from the mobile gaming industry, a variety of talks were conducted in a single day. Among the most discussed topics was how Apple's recent limitations on user tracking have brought about a significant turning point in user acquisition strategies. Additionally, as expected, AI was heavily present in various presentations, roundtable discussions, and talks.
Biz Barcelona took place at the end of October at Fira Montjuic. The event for SMEs, businesses, and individuals with entrepreneurial and business initiatives welcomed over 12,000 curious attendees over two days. Various workshops and talks focused primarily on the digitization and innovation of companies. The event was held jointly with the Saló de L'ensenyament, making it a very interesting event for early-stage young companies or entrepreneurs looking to start their own projects. Topics such as taxation, social media, brand protection, business models, hybrid-working , and equality/diversity were addressed.
SportsBiz Europe was held at the wonderful Antigua Fábrica de Estrella Damm located in the Eixample district of Barcelona. From October 17th to 20th. SPORTBIZ EUROPE is the meeting point for the sports business sector, with a distinctive stamp of genuine and qualified networking that brings together like-minded professionals in an informal and inspiring atmosphere. Once again, artificial intelligence (AI) was a central theme in the debates. It's worth highlighting the presentations by Bundesliga's product manager, who shared how they are leveraging AI to enhance engagement with their community and generate even more content for fans. This innovative strategy is driving a more interactive and personalized experience for football fans, demonstrating how technology can significantly improve the relationship between a league and its fans.
Finally, we were also present at the presentation of the ESPORTS 2023 report by Esports Bureau and Esports Professional. The presentation took place at Ca l'Alier, Barcelona Sports Hub event venue, host of the event.
Esports are facing challenges at this moment. Because of being a relatively young sector compared to others, it is still in the process of finding profitable ways to monetize its audience. It seems that the euphoria and excitement of recent years have waned due to lack of revenue, high costs (such as player salaries), and little return on investment. However, what remains evident is that video games and Esports are not destined to disappear; rather, they are experiencing continuous growth in audience, resources, and popularity, especially among younger generations.
