The local community was given an up-close look at and education into the world of Esports gaming Wednesday afternoon.
The Emporia State University Esports team held a community meet-and-greet in their new Esports arena which officially opened back in October. The team competes in the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) and just completed their fall season.
The new arena, located in Cremer Hall, was the product of funding from both the ESU Foundation and the city of Emporia. The team consists of more than 30 students who practice on average between six to 15 hours per week.
Overwatch Coach Cole Williamson says that while many may perceive competitive video gaming as an antisocial activity, he says it is the reverse opposite.
Williamson, a lifelong gamer, adds the investment in the team and the growth of Esports across the world in recent years gives him a great sense of validation.
Current games played by the team in competition include Overwatch, League of Legends and Chess with plans to expand to additional platforms in the future. All varsity members of the team are on scholarship and all members have 24/7 access to the Esports arena.
The arena is available to the entire campus between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm daily. For more information on the ESU Esports team visit Emporia.edu.
