Introduction
To turn that upside down, just imagine lots of racing drones found around a playing field. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, drone soccer is more than images of some long-range sport, its becoming serious for local economies. No joke!
Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs
You know how everyone these days talks about creating jobs? Enter, Drone soccer, which is actually doing the same. And I’m not even talking about professional drone pilots (though that would be a sweet gig). Consider all the people who are required to make this sport hum:
Drone makers and fixers
– Event orgs (somebody’s got to make sure all those matches run smoothly)
Coaches (yes, even robot soccer has coaches)
And don’t get me started on the local shops selling gear and doing repairs.
It feels like this whole little economy has sprung up around robots flying around and kicking a ball. Who would’ve thought?
Putting Towns on the Map
Crazy but true: Drone soccer tournaments are making it rain tourists. I mean, who would not want to see a few inhuman bots workout their battles on the footy pitch, yeah?
My cousin lives in this tiny town that held a huge Drone soccer event over the summer. She said it was packed! Hotels were booked up, restaurants were crowded, even the local souvenir shop was running out of those dreadful “I <3 Drone soccer” t shirts. Its like the entire town got a little bump from this one event.
Kids These Days (and Their Flying Robots)
You know what’s really cool? Drone soccer has kids buzzing about learning. I was talking to the kid who lives next to me the other day, and all he wanted to talk about was his school’s Drone soccer program. So this little thing apparently is learning all kinds of tech stuff and programming and engineering and you know, all that. And here I thought I was hot stuff when I could program my VCR back in the day!
Tech Nerds, Rejoice!
And on the tech side, Drone soccer is literally driving so much innovation. My friend works for a company that builds drones, and he says they have to keep coming up with new ideas due to Drone soccer. Lighter materials, better controls, longer-lasting batteries — all this stuff begins with the game they play, but ends up being useful for all kinds of things. It’s like the space race but with tiny flying soccer players.
Small Businesses Joining in the Fun
Big tech companies aren’t the only ones cashing in. There are little stores springing up here and there to serve the Drone soccer fandom. There’s this great shop downtown that sells only drone pieces and accessories. Business is booming, the owner told me — who knew there was such a demand for three-foot-long drone covers that look like miniature soccer balls?
Building Stuff (and Not Just Drones)
Some towns are in fact even constructing new facilities dedicated to Drone soccer. My sister’s city transformed this old warehouse into this (used) state-of-the-art drone arena. But here’s where it gets crazy (pun completely intended) — they use it for all kinds of other events, too. It’s as if they were gifted a gleaming community center, courtesy of flying robots.
Show Me the Money (sponsors and ads)
You know how every pro sports player is covered in logos? Well, drone soccer is joining the action, as well. Local businesses are sponsoring teams and events all over. Not bad, smart move if you ask me — I mean, what better way to get in front of tech savvy people than with a sport that is essentially a video game come to life?
School’s Cool (When Drones Are Involved)
Colleges and schools also are getting on The Drone soccer bandwagon. The drone soccer league partnered with my niece’s high school, so now they have this fancy new tech lab. Apparently it’s not only for drone stuff neither it’s helping with every class. Who would have thought that flying robots could make math so much fun?
Uniting People (Around Flying Robots)
Yes, that’s right, you’d never believe it, but Drone soccer is actually uniting communities. I attended a game in my city last month, and it was like a huge party. People were cheering, kids were darting around with drone-shaped balloons, and I actually saw the mayor flipping burgers at the concession stand. It’s strange, but in a good way, you know?
The Long Game
So now you know the next time you see a swarm of drones z[piping] around a field, — it isn’t just a game. It’s an entire economic driver masquerading as a bunch of flying robots kicking around a ball. Pretty cool, huh?
Well, now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go practice flying the drone. Those championship trophies don’t win themselves!
