A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 29, will celebrate the opening of the new ESU esports arena. The event will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and include games, refreshments and a player meet-and-greet.
The esports arena is located on the first floor of Cremer Hall. The community is invited to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the space.
Both the City of Emporia and the ESU Foundation have had a part in getting the new esports program off the ground. Through their investments, ESU has created a state-of-the-art gaming arena equipped with premiere gaming computers and peripherals.
At the collegiate level, the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), of which ESU is a member, includes more than 240 schools with over 5,000 student-athletes competing in varsity esports programs. ESU varsity athletes compete in Overwatch, League of Legends and chess tournaments with more planned in the coming months.
In addition to providing a competition and practice arena for the esports teams, the space can also be used as a high-tech computer lab to provide student projects that require more performance processing technology. These and other academic initiatives, called E-Ventures, will allow students to take on projects and engage in curriculum that builds skill in technology, illustration, design, and coding to prepare them for career options in the gaming industry. The arena is open to all ESU students Monday through Friday while classes are in session.