When it rains it pours... e-sports bars. Hot on the heels of the announcement that Got Game e-Sports Bar and Lounge is set to open in Toronto late this spring, a new player has emerged on the scene, one that is linked to the Meltdown e-sports bar franchise that's become popular in cities across Europe.

Given that Meltdown Toronto is also targeting a spring opening, it remains to be seen which establishment will take the honour of the first to open in Toronto. I'm not sure that it matters, though. While some traditionalists knock the idea of e-sports bars, a city of our size can almost surely support two of these bars.

What will be interesting to see is how both bars go about differentiating themselves. The Meltdown franchise already boasts 12 branches around the world and has become the early standard for bars of this type. That might hold some weight as the e-sports bar scene lands in Toronto.

Meltdown hopes to open in May or June near College and Spadina. The e-sports surge is almost here, Toronto.

Photo of Meltdown London