A US city in the state of Texas announced this month that they’ll be building a dedicated esports stadium: the Esports Stadium Arlington. They plan on making a 365-day-a-year venue that will host all sorts of gaming events be they huge tournaments or smaller competitions.
Of course, this isn’t the only stadium news we’ve covered recently. Unfortunately, China gets the prize for announcing (and building) their dedicated esports stadium first.
About China’s stadium
First of all, China’s Zhongxian E-Sports Stadium construction should be done by May this year. And, the stadium already had its official opening last year.
About the Esports Stadium Arlington
Esports fans will encounter a live experience unlike any other, by way of space for up to 1,000 spectators, VIP amenities and year-round event potential.
– Brian Mirakian, Senior Principal at Populous
Some background
The architects behind this stadium is a company called Populous. And, on their news page, they announced that they will be collaborating with The City of Arlington and Esports Venues, LLC. to get this stadium up and running.
Stadium details and expected opening date
They plan on having it be a high-tech, state-of-the-art venue made for esports. The venue will be 100,000-square-feet in size (about 93,000 m²).
The stadium will have:
- Event space
- Casual gaming spaces
- Retail spaces
- Social spaces
- VIP hospitality
- A broadcast studio
- Team training areas
They expect the stadium to be open by the end of 2018.
How much investment did the stadium receive?
Of course, they won’t build the stadium from scratch (like China’s stadium). The City of Arlington and Esports Venues, LLC invested US$10 million to turn the Arlington Convention Center into an esports venue.
Why transform an existing stadium instead of building something new? According to Populous, it’s comparatively inexpensive. Also, it’s more efficient than constructing a new facility entirely.
How about a stadium in Australia?
If you haven’t read it yet, we’ve built a strong case for supporting and investing in esports in Australia (and specifically, NSW). Esports is set to grow even more over time. With its growing recognition as a serious sport, it’s no surprise that it’ll need its own venues. It’s a spectator sport in its own right.
So, how long until we see a dedicated esports stadium in Australia? Esports revenue expected to grow to US$1.65 billion by 2021 (Newzoo, 2018). Therefore, we need to be ready for that future growth.
Image: Populous
Source: https://populous.com/news/2018/03/14/populous-collaborates-north-americas-first-esports-stadium/