If eSports, albeit with losses, can get online, then computer clubs are in an unenviable position because of the COVID-19 epidemic. In Moscow, almost all establishments continue to work, but at the same time they have already lost a significant part of the audience. We spoke with employees and managers of computer clubs in Moscow to find out how their institutions adapt to quarantine conditions and what steps they are taking to protect visitors.
Computer clubs empty
At the end of 2019, the number of computer clubs in Moscow increased by 2.5 times and amounted to 147 institutions. However, against the backdrop of coronavirus, audience demand for them fell sharply. We talked with a dozen computer clubs, and in each of them, employees noted a decrease in the number of visitors. The Venom Cyber Zone talked about a 40% drop in traffic, Eclipse Gaming it is even more – 50%.
Some computer clubs have noted a strong decline in the number of school-age visitors. According to David Ghazaryan and Boris Nzale, co-founders of Black Star Gaming, this is due to the fact that parents are afraid to let their children out of the house.
“The flow of customers has decreased by approximately 50-55%. For the first time, people are faced with such a massive world-class problem. ”
Despite the general drop in demand, some computer clubs have more students. This is due to the fact that in higher education institutions quarantined. The CyberX administrator in Brateevo, Vyacheslav, spoke about this trend.
“The flow of customers has decreased, of course, but at the same time there are those who spend a lot of time with us instead of studying. Many come and say: “Well, the university has been quarantined, now there is an opportunity to hang out here.”
Representatives of various computer clubs estimated the reduction in the audience in the range from 20 to 55%. In other sectors it’s even worse – the turnover in catering establishments fell 90%, and there the owners really sound the alarm and even turn to customers for support, asking them to leave a tip and often order food at home. Among representatives of computer clubs, the situation is not yet considered critical. There are enough enthusiasts who are ready to spend several hours or all night in gaming establishments. Reducing the audience to a lesser extent affected clubs with a small capacity – it was in them that we were told about a slight loss of customers.
Antiseptic for everyone
Some Moscow clubs already had a well-developed system for caring for playing places, and therefore they did not introduce additional safety and hygiene measures. But even such institutions have updated their arsenal of hygiene products due to coronavirus. Director of Development Eclipse gaming Anton Murashov He said that his club bought masks, gloves and antiseptic agents.
“We have had hygiene measures since the opening. We issued alcoholic antibacterial wipes to each client. In addition, daily cleaning and processing of gaming and workplaces was carried out during the technical hour. This does not include constant wet cleaning. “
At the Black Star Gaming Club, in addition to the cleaning that the club employees do, customers are given alcohol wipes so that they can also sanitize the playing area. The set of security measures in general is almost the same everywhere: air purifiers, antibacterial soap, antiseptics, alcohol wipes, and constant cleaning of seats.
However, not all clubs have adapted to the new realities. At Winstrike Arena, the administrator admitted that it is better to come to the club with your antiseptic and mask, since they do not have the appropriate funds. He also noted that the number of visitors to the club has decreased: “Now 20-30 people.”
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The administrator of Midnight Cyber Club Igor said that most of the general rules related to hygiene have been in effect at the club before. With the onset of the epidemic, an antiseptic was added to the means of fighting microbes, which customers are asked to treat their hands at the entrance to the club.
If in the Midnight Cyber Club an antiseptic is offered at will, then in the St. Petersburg club CyberX this has become the rule. Savva Vishnevsky, a regular visitor and hockey player of SKA youth, said that when paying for playing time, the club’s administration strongly recommends using an antiseptic.
“The antiseptic was here before, it was possible to use it at will. Now he is standing at the front desk, and its use has become the rule. Somehow, when paying, I was distracted by the phone, so they immediately reminded me to rub my hands. Sometimes there are guys who come with their antiseptics, one or two were even masked, other visitors looked at them askance. ”
Representatives of all the institutions with which we spoke noted that visitors to computer clubs themselves do not use additional precautions. Only a few come in masks and respirators; almost no one brings alcohol wipes or antiseptics with them.
“Some people use respirators or masks, but this is more an exception than a rule.”
Will coronavirus destroy computer clubs?
On March 16, Moscow authorities banned mass gatherings on the premises of more than 50 people. Cyber Loft at Yota Arena was the first of the capital’s computer clubs to quarantine until March 31.
“We decided to suspend the work of Cyber Loft in the Yota Arena for the period of the pandemic. This is our social position: we do not want to contribute to the spread of coronavirus. ”
During quarantine, Cyber Loft offers its customers to participate in online tournaments.
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Cyber Loft is still the only Moscow computer club that has quarantined. However, amid tightening security measures, other institutions may also have to suspend work soon. Vyacheslav, the CyberX administrator in Brateevo, whose capacity is less than 50 seats, believes that such a scenario is possible, and the club is ready to do it, despite the losses.
“The first thing that matters here is customer safety, we don’t want to risk someone’s health.”
Anton Murashov believes that forced quarantine in Moscow may lead to the ruin of some computer clubs.
“At the moment we are working on all possible scenarios. Losses will depend on the duration of the quarantine and, again, on the measures that we will work through. Bankruptcies in Moscow are not excluded, but it rather depends on the clubs themselves and their capabilities. ”
Andrey Kandyba, who is involved in the Kiev eSports Arena, believes that the consequences for the industry depend on the duration of the quarantine. According to him, two or three weeks of downtime will not be able to ruin this business.
“Under the condition of possible compulsory quarantine, of course, institutions of a similar nature will suffer losses, but two or three weeks of quarantine are not nearly the time when computer clubs will be on the verge of bankruptcy.”
The co-founders of the Black Star Gaming project, David Ghazaryan and Boris Nzale, believe that the financial stability of computer clubs will depend on landlords. Although this rule applies not only to computer clubs, but also to other institutions. At the same time, Ghazaryan and Nzale believe that the introduction of strict quarantine for a month is better than an unstable and decreasing flow of customers over two or three months.
“In our opinion, owners should enter the position of tenants and be aware of the situation on the market and support their tenants. We believe that a percentage of the turnover is the best solution for both parties. As a result, it turns out that any field of activity may be on the verge of bankruptcy if all measures are not taken. ”
Small business in Moscow, especially in the restaurant sector, is now as vulnerable and preparing for bankruptcy. Against this background, computer clubs feel more comfortable. While many people are willing to give up cafes or bars for a while, video game fans are more reluctant to sacrifice visits to computer clubs. However, in the end, everything will depend on the rate of spread of the coronavirus and on the measures that the authorities will take. It is still difficult to predict how the situation will develop further, therefore computer clubs, like the rest of small and medium-sized businesses in Moscow and Russia, can only wait.
