During our conversation with Rick Thiher, EVO’s General Manager, we discussed his thoughts on the fighting game event’s transition to becoming the biggest esports tournament in the world. We also talked about the challenges he faced when relocating the gathering to a new venue, after years of it being held at the Mandalay Bay.
Every summer, Las Vegas, Nevada becomes the ultimate destination for the fighting game community. EVO, known as the Mecca of fighting game culture, draws in thousands of players from around the world who come together for a weekend of competition and camaraderie, creating unforgettable memories that will be cherished forever.
In the year 2023, the event set a new record for attendance with more than 9,000 registered players. The following year, the record was once again broken as over 10,000 registered players attended, along with a larger number of spectators.
Despite the change in venue to the Las Vegas Convention Center this year, hundreds of players were still unable to enter the arena and watch the Sunday Finals. Despite the organizers’ best efforts, many waited in a long line outside the doors, hoping for a chance to get in.
EVO had a new home this year to fit over ten thousand competitors.
As of 2024, EVO has officially been crowned as the largest open-bracket esports event in the world, a fact that greatly surprised its General Manager, Rick Thiher.
He described the situation as rather perplexing. It’s intriguing to reach a point where the only major competitions in the world that go beyond our current level are poker tournaments, and there are even entire cities built around the framework of poker.
“Even without the support of traditional infrastructure, our ability to achieve such a large scale in Las Vegas serves as a testament to the strength and dedication of our fandom. It is a testament to their growth and presence, as well as their unwavering competitive spirit that has been at the core of this show since its inception.”
The team faced new challenges with the change in venue. The biggest difficulty for Rick and his team was figuring out how to adapt the event to a larger space without any columns to divide individual booths, tournament areas, and other sections. Envisioning EVO in the Convention Center proved to be a daunting task.
EVO is a place for fighting game players to gather and celebrate what they love – something GM Rick Thiher hopes to continue in the years ahead.
The absence of columns was one of the biggest challenges, according to him. The space at Mandalay Bay, where we held our event, was filled with numerous columns. However, this space has significantly fewer columns. As a result, we had to adapt and compartmentalize certain parts of the show around the column spread. For instance, we could only place booths in certain areas, exhibits in others, and the tournament in a specific location.
“By creating a more open floor plan, we have eliminated a previous limitation. However, we are unsure of how this will affect the overall atmosphere on the show floor. The division between the artist alley, exhibitors area, publisher’s area, and tournament area may not be as distinct when walking in now.”
“Will those fit properly? Are they too small or too big? Without any obstructions, your vision will have a greater range. Do you find yourself thinking, ‘I’ll do that later, it’s too far to walk at the moment’?
Fortunately, Rick is confident that EVO will return to the Las Vegas Convention Center, giving the team the opportunity to build upon this year’s experience and implement the lessons they have gained.
“One positive aspect is that I have a strong belief that we will have the opportunity to do this again. This will allow us to continue improving and perfecting the experience, ensuring that walking around the show floor is not a negative experience. One of the biggest challenges has been determining the best placement and organization for everything.”
The absence of the Michelob ULTRA Arena is a significant distinction between the Mandalay Bay and the Convention Center. The grandiose space added a certain kind of magic to EVO, and players were concerned that the event would not feel the same without this particular element, which had witnessed fighting game history.
This year’s finals Arena looks a bit different from the Michelob ULTRA Arena – but it was no less hype.
We inquired with Thiher about his process for capturing the atmosphere of the ULTRA Arena at the Convention Center, which was filled to capacity on Sunday night for the Top 6 of Street Fighter 6. Rick’s top priorities for this year’s EVO Finals experience were arranging stadium-style seating to accommodate the crowd and incorporating visual elements from the Michelob Arena.
“Although he didn’t want to admit it was more challenging than anticipated, he acknowledged that keeping up with the visuals required more labor than expected. Typically, arenas have LED ribbons that display partnerships and advertisements, but the color is what stands out on camera.”
The convention center immediately creates a sense of distance, which we wanted to avoid. We had to determine if we could find and set up adequate LED panels to mimic the desired aesthetic and achieve the same impact, while also navigating the space and angles.
“While it was time-consuming, it was also enjoyable. Seeing it on camera was particularly satisfying as the ribbon was functioning as intended. This made the experience feel even more like the brand of Michelob Ultra.”
As the night came to a close, Thiher took to the main stage to reveal the future plans for EVO. Sticking to their promise from last year’s event, EVO will now be expanding beyond its current status as two of the largest fighting game tournaments in the world. It will become a global brand, with events taking place in France, Los Angeles, and Singapore, and with further expansions in the works.
With the introduction of these new events, Rick’s vision for EVO is to build upon its initial purpose – bringing together enthusiastic fighting game enthusiasts in one location to share their love for the game.
According to him, EVO has evolved into its current state thanks in part to the emergence of World Warriors 24 years ago. Players from all over would gather at designated locations as a way to celebrate a common purpose.
EVO has evolved into a significant event in this aspect. My vision for EVO is to become a World Warrior II, where we are dedicated to contributing to the origins and growth of this genre. This is why it is fitting for us to be in Japan and connect with the actual birthplace of the genre. It all makes perfect sense.
There are many other places in the world that have developed large communities, and these communities have contributed to the overall culture of the genre in their own unique way.
The fighting game community is truly unique, and EVO is the ultimate embodiment of the intense enthusiasm and genuine love for this form of entertainment. Under Rick’s leadership, the fighting game genre is receiving the recognition it deserves, and he is determined to continue spreading its influence globally.
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