University of California, Irvine (UCI) will next week open a dedicated esports arena after construction work on the 3,500-square-foot venue was completed.
UCI has spent the summer building the $250,000 (£189,000/€222,000) arena, which will officially open on September 23. It is said to be the first public college esports arena in the US.
Both students and members of the public will be able to access the arena at a rate of $4 an hour. Gaming computer manufacturer iBuyPower is backing the arena, along with game developer Riot Games.
UCI has invested heavily in esports and will later this year launch its own competitive gaming initiative. The arena will feature 80 gaming PCs and will act as the hub of the college’s ever-growing gaming community.
“Esports is the future of competition. Period,” UCI’s acting director of esports, Mark Deppe, said, according to the Engadget website. “It transcends language, geography, race, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability and many other identities. In five years many more schools will (have) official programmes and more structure will be in place to regulate and provide guidance to schools.
“Esports also has a huge opportunity to learn from the successes and shortcomings of traditional sports and provide a model for collegiate competition in the 21st century.”
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