Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. - Step 1 of 8This survey takes about five minutes. Your answers help the facilitator shape the session around what's actually relevant to the people in the room — not generic frameworks, but the real challenges and real wins that matter to you. There are no right answers. Please complete this survey by April 21, 2026. NextProgram ProfileName *FirstLastOrganization / InstitutionWhat role best describes you?K-12 Esports Coach / DirectorK-12 AdministratorCollegiate Esports Director / CoachCollegiate AdministratorAcademic Department Chair / DeanIndustry ProfessionalStudent LeaderWhat level are you primarily working in? (select one)K-12CollegiateIndustryCross-sectorHow would you describe your program's current stage? Emerging — basic competition structureDeveloping — established with some resourcesEstablished — dedicated resources and staffAdvanced — comprehensive program with academic integration and career pathwaysNot Applicable - I'm an industry professionalPreviousNextBLAST Premiere Rivals & Behind the Scenes TourPasses are subject to availability. We'll do our best to accommodate your preference and confirm closer to the event. Your participation includes a complimentary 1-Day Pass to BLAST Premiere Rivals. What is your preferred date?May 1May 2May 3I am not able to attendWould you like to join the complimentary Behind the Scenes Tour at BLAST Premiere Rivals?YesNoPreviousNextSustainability ConfidenceThis section establishes a baseline on how the field views its own long-term sustainability. Please rate your agreement with each statement honestly — there are no right answers.What is your primary goal for your esports program?Emerging — building foundational structureDeveloping — established program with growing resourcesEstablished — dedicated resources and staffAdvanced — comprehensive program with academic integration and career pathwaysRate your level of agreement with each of the following statements. My program has stable, reliable funding for the next 2 years Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeMy program has strong institutional support from senior leadership Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeMy program would survive a leadership change at my institution Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeMy program has a clear value proposition that resonates with non-gaming stakeholders Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeMy program has meaningful, active industry relationships Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeMy program is producing students with career-ready skills Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeI am confident my program will still be operating in 5 years Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeI have the tools and language to make the case for my program's value Selected Value: 1 1 = Strongly Disagree · 3 = Neutral · 5 = Strongly AgreeOverall, how would you rate the sustainability of academic esports programs in your sector right now? Strong — most programs are well-positioned for the long termMixed — some programs are thriving but many are vulnerableFragile — most programs face significant sustainability challengesCritical — the ecosystem is at a turning point and programs are at real risk administrators do well PreviousNextPressure & PriorityThis section identifies where programs are feeling the most pressure. The results will help surface which challenges are most widely shared across the ecosystem.What are the top three sustainability challenges facing your program or organization right now?Securing consistent, long-term fundingEarning meaningful administrative or institutional buy-inDemonstrating ROI or value in non-gaming termsMaintaining student enrollment and engagement year over yearBuilding industry relationships that go beyond one-time sponsorshipsDeveloping clear career pathways for studentsStaffing — finding and retaining qualified coaches or directorsCompeting for institutional priority with other programsSurviving leadership transitions at the institutionLack of standardization or recognition across the broader ecosystemOtherIf other, please specify:Which stakeholders are most challenging to demonstrate value to? (select up to 3)Senior administration (presidents, provosts, superintendents)Academic faculty and department headsBoard members or trusteesParentsPotential industry partners or sponsorsStudents themselvesCommunity membersLooking ahead three years, what is the single biggest threat to your program's survival?Be specific — what would actually end your program?PreviousNextWhat's WorkingYour answers directly shape the storytelling portion of the Lab — the more specific you are, the more useful the session becomes for everyone in the room.Which of the following strategies have you used to build sustainability for your program? Framing the program as a solution to an existing institutional problemConnecting esports outcomes to institutional retention or enrollment dataBuilding a student leadership structure that outlasts individual coachesDeveloping curriculum or academic course offeringsCreating a formal industry advisory or partnership programEstablishing a non-tuition revenue streamPositioning students as advocates with senior leadershipAligning the program to workforce development or career pathway goalsDocumenting and communicating impact in non-gaming languageBuilding cross-departmental relationships within the institutionOtherIf other, please specify:Of the strategies you selected above, which has had the greatest impact?What is one thing your program does well that most people outside it don't see or give you credit for?PreviousNextThe Long GameWhat would 'still here and thriving in five years' actually look like for your program?What would have to be true for that to happen?What would have to be true for that to happen? (copy)PreviousNextStudent ExperienceYou are in the room because your voice matters — not as an observer, but as someone whose experience of this ecosystem is different from everyone else's. These questions capture what the field rarely gets to hear directlyHow well has your esports program prepared you for what comes after graduation?Very well — I have a clear path and the skills to pursue itSomewhat well — I've gained real skills but I can see significant gapsNot very well — career preparation is not a meaningful part of my programNot applicable — my focus is competitive play, not career developmentWhat has been most valuable to you in your esports program? (select up to 3)Competitive experienceLeadership opportunities within the programConnections to industry professionalsBroadcast or production experienceContent creation skillsEvent management and operationsAcademic coursework tied to esportsMentorship from coaches or facultyThe community and relationships builtWhat gaps do you see between your experience in academic esports and what the industry actually expects?What do you wish existed in your program that doesn't right now?What do you want the administrators and industry professionals in this room to understand about the student experience that they probably don't?Coaches & Faculty These questions focus on the day-to-day reality of building and sustaining a program — the institutional dynamics, the resource constraints, and the things that rarely make it into formal reports.Roughly what percentage of your time goes toward justifying or advocating for your program versus actually running it? Less than 10% — the program is well supported and I focus on delivery10 to 25% — some advocacy required but manageable25 to 50% — a significant portion of my energy goes to making the caseMore than 50% — I spend more time defending the program than building itHow would you describe your institution's current level of support for your program?Actively invested — leadership champions the program and allocates real resourcesPassively supportive — allowed to exist but not meaningfully prioritizedTolerant — the program survives but faces ongoing skepticismResistant — I am regularly required to justify the program's existenceHostile — the program faces active opposition or is at risk of being cutWhat would make your program structurally sustainable — meaning it could survive if you left tomorrow?What's the most effective thing you've done to build credibility for your program with non-gaming stakeholders?What do you wish administrators and industry partners understood about the reality of running an academic esports program that they clearly don't?The Industry ViewThese questions capture what the industry actually sees from academic esports — the talent gaps, the partnership barriers, and what would make deeper engagement worth the investment.How would you rate the overall readiness of students coming from academic esports programs for careers in your sector?Very ready — consistently see candidates with the skills and mindset we needSomewhat ready — foundational skills are there but significant gaps remainNot very ready — most candidates require substantial additional developmentToo inconsistent to generalize — quality varies widely across programsWhat skills or qualities are most often missing in students coming from academic esports programs? (select up to 3)Professional communication and workplace readinessProject and event managementBusiness acumen and strategic thinkingTechnical production skillsData analysis and performance analyticsLeadership and team managementAdaptability and problem-solving under pressureIndustry-specific knowledge and contextContent creation and storytellingWhat barriers prevent your organization from deeper engagement with academic esports programs? (select up to 3)Lack of standardization — too much variation in program quality and focusUnclear ROI — difficulty measuring the value of partnership investmentBandwidth — limited internal resources to manage ongoing relationshipsMisaligned timelines — academic cycles don't match industry planning cyclesInstitutional bureaucracy — slow or complex partnership processesInconsistent institutional commitment — programs change leadership or direction too oftenWe haven't found the right engagement model yetDescribe a partnership with an academic esports program that worked well — and what made it work. If you haven't had one that worked, describe what you'd need to see for a partnership to be worth the investment.What do program administrators and coaches need to understand about the industry that would make their programs more relevant and their partnerships more sustainable?What do you wish administrators and industry partners understood about the reality of running an academic esports program that they clearly don't?Submit Key Event DetailsThink Tank SessionDateApril 29, 2026Time2:00 PM - 4:30 PMLocationBotanic Gardens | Fort Worth, TXApply Today
