Successful debut of Copenhagen Gaming Week sets the stage for future growth

Despite widespread public attention on last weekend’s combined royal abdication and ascension in Denmark, the final attendance for the premiere of Copenhagen Gaming Week at Bella Center Copenhagen and Bella Arena reached 12,500. Organizers express their satisfaction:

"For four years, we have worked to build an ambitious and engaging festival for games in all their forms. When faced with stiff competition for attention, particularly during a significant royal event, it might seem like game over. But that wasn't the case. Now we can look back on a successful first edition that points the way forward," says Kevin Helsinghof, Commercial Director at Bella Center Copenhagen and Bella Arena, and further elaborates:

"We are extremely proud that so many people came and filled our halls, but this is just the beginning. The goal is to grow Denmark's new festival for gaming and esports in the coming years, not only in terms of attendance and the event's physical footprint in the capital but also to attract a larger percentage of international guests now that we have established a concrete platform to build upon," he adds.

 

Setting the stage for future talents

Copenhagen Gaming Week featured four unique worlds tailored to a wide range of interests and age groups. The festival brought together physical gaming communities, from a vibrant esports arena to board games and cosplay in the Superfans area, family fun in the New Generation zone, and digital and physical sports in the Urban & Sport hall, where the street sports NGO, GAME was based:

"We were particularly impressed with how Copenhagen Gaming Week succeeded in broadening the notion of gaming to cover much more than just screen time. It was gaming in the broadest sense, and from GAME, we had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation about the importance of health and togetherness in a time when the boundaries between the digital and physical are being challenged," says Simon Prahm, CEO and Co-founder of GAME.

The festival addressed the gaming habits and future possibilities of children and youth through various talks, covering topics from digital security to career advice from prominent YouTubers and professional gamers. This aspect also received political support in the form of a dedicated career day on Friday morning, where over 2,000 students, including a significant number from the Municipality of Copenhagen, participated in workshops and presentations from well-known industry figures.

Tournaments at an international level

The first ever iteration of Copenhagen Gaming Week featured over 150 different activities and experiences, with the premier highlight being the international Counter-Strike 2 tournament in Bella Arena, created in collaboration with the globally renowned esports experts from BLAST.

The final showdown between Danish champions Astralis and the Swedish powerhouse team NiP attracted over 2,000 physical spectators and 120,000 unique online streamers over the course of the weekend.

"We are confident that, in collaboration with Copenhagen Gaming Week, we have created a new and exciting tournament format with the potential to attract even more international attention and visitation in the years to come, as we look to further cement Denmark's position as a leader in global esports", says James Woollard, Director of Market Development for BLAST.

Ambitious growth plans

On the more commercial side, companies like the Danish electronics chain Power showed enthusiasm. Power invested a substantial amount in the festival's largest stand, allowing visitors to shop for the latest tech and gamer gear. Live shopping experiences were streamed directly from Power's own stage to thousands of online shoppers.

"We strategically aim to capture larger shares of the rapidly growing gaming and esports market in Denmark and the Nordic region. Therefore, we had no doubt that we should be a part of this brand-new festival created to celebrate those exact genres. Especially when Copenhagen Gaming Week's mission is to reach even more guests and gamers in the years to come. It is an ambition that resonates with us in every way," concludes Jesper Boysen, CEO of Power.

 

Facts about Copenhagen Gaming Week 2024:

• Developed in collaboration between Bellagroup, Wonderful Copenhagen, and Blackbox Media.
• The event is supported by funds from the City of Copenhagen and the Capital Region.
• The attendance for the first edition of Copenhagen Gaming Week was 12,500.
• Over 150 activities and experiences constituted a program spread across four experiential worlds.
• The ambition for the coming years is to involve more stakeholders and locations in Copenhagen, with a specific focus on growing attendance, particularly with international guests.