Summary: Get expert advice on how to build an esports arena in three simple steps.
Turns out that all the time kids have spent playing video games like Fortnite and League of Legends was well-spent. What was once a hobby or friendly competition for bragging rights is now one of the fastest-growing sports programs among high schools, colleges, and universities. In fact, esports participation was up 50% in 2022, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports.
For schools, esports programs offer a way to increase enrollment by attracting students who aren’t interested in or able to participate in traditional sports. And because competitions are broadcast online, you can raise awareness of your school or program to a massive virtual audience.
For students, esports provides a chance to compete at a high level, earn scholarships, network with other students, learn new skills, and have fun – all of which lead to increased student engagement and improved graduation rates.
“Esports has evolved, especially in the collegiate space,” said Brad Sousa, Chief Technology Officer at AVI Systems. “Esports has leveled the field, allowing a small college or university to compete and win against Division 1 schools. What’s more, it helps schools successfully create online communities and can influence admissions plans.”
If you’re new to the world of esports or curious about what equipment your school needs to start or enhance an esports program, this is the post for you. Here we break down three simple steps to build an esports arena.
Your first decision is the esports arena design – or the space players will use to practice and compete during tournaments. While each school’s arena is slightly different, they usually include most, if not all, of the following spaces:
“When schools create a competitive esports arena, teams can compete together with some of the most powerful computing machines and esports technologies,” said Sousa.
Once you’ve designed your esports arena, it’s time to decide about equipment. Again, each school’s goals and needs vary, but most esports arenas include the following equipment.
“With broadcast and streaming technologies incorporated into the arena, teams can play online and create a viewership – a tribe of fans – who align with the brand and core values of that school or university,” added Sousa.
The final step in setting up your esports arena is to work with an experienced esports systems integrator. This step ensures that all the audio visual technologies in each part of your esports venue work well together, are easy to use on competition day, and deliver an excellent experience for the players, coaches, audience, and school.
When talking with potential vendors, ask how they approach integrating all of the key components that make up an esports program. It’s important that each stage of the systems integration process, including design, installation, and support, is considered well before the first gaming console gets set up on the arena floor.
At AVI Systems, we’ve developed industry-leading esports arena AV system designs that simplify the design process. We’ve also partnered with gaming PC manufacturer CORSAIR and other key manufacturers, including Logitech, Q-SYS, Sony, and Spectrum, to bundle and deliver complete, top-of-the-line esports packages. That means we can provide a complete solution for your school in one order – no more managing multiple vendors or waiting to set up your arena until different orders arrive.
“Esports is one of the applications that brings together the best of the AV industry,” added Sousa. “Live media, live events production, broadcast and streaming, high-speed networks, and computing, all rolled together with a dose of healthy competition. That’s what makes AVI such a perfect partner for an esports program.”
If your high school, college, or university is ready to add or upgrade your esports program, we welcome the chance to introduce ourselves and share more about our esports AV expertise.
©AVI Systems, Inc., 2023