One local university in Texas is stepping up its game with style.
The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) plans to open “the premier collegiate gaming center in the country” by next Spring, stated Gene Fitch, the university’s vice president of student affairs.
The 16,000-square-foot two-story Gaming & Esports Center will house casual gaming spaces, an indoor venue with a 200-inch screen and spectator seating, an outdoor venue with green space featuring a 200-inch screen and spectator seating, a broadcast and production studio, and dining and event space. It will have over 100 computers, including a Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and PS5 gaming systems.
“We have intentionally curated what we believe is the most complete collegiate gaming and esports experience that we could possibly give to our students,” said Dan Goodwin, director of Student Union and Student Union Programs at UTD, per Community Impact.
UTD is one of more than 170 colleges and universities nationwide that host varsity esports programs. College esports is often the beginning path for gamers who hope to go professional.
The first collegiate esports program was created at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania in 2014. UTD formed its esports program in 2018 and “quickly established itself as one of the country’s biggest names in collegiate esports,” the university’s website states.
The new facility will be open to students of all skill levels.
School officials hope the gaming center will boost engagement opportunities and help students find their place at UTD, two facets of the student experience linked to higher retention and graduation rates.
“What we’ve really tried to do with this facility is sort of treat it like a recreational center,” said Goodwin, per Community Impact. “We’re trying to make esports for all, not just for the 30 to 50 varsity-level players that might be on campus.”
For those who love the world of gaming but are not gamers themselves, there are plenty of other opportunities to get involved, such as participating on the broadcast team or becoming a content creator or esports reporter.
The center’s operation will also offer work experience and professional development opportunities, creating 45 student jobs and a potential micro-credential for esports management.
School officials foresee many other potential uses for the new facility, such as community partners hosting tournaments. The event space could also host programs such as comedy nights, open mic nights, poetry slams, or karaoke.
“We want to enhance, you know, esports on our campus, but we want to provide access to communities in the DFW area that might otherwise not have those opportunities,” Goodwin said, per Community Impact.
