Game On: State-of-the-Art 糖心动漫vlog Esports Arena Opens
Sept. 6, 2018
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. � Wearing an 糖心动漫vlog Esports jersey pulled over the top of his dress shirt and tie, President Eric Jensen cut the ribbon to officially open 糖心动漫vlog檚 state-of-the-art Esports Arena during a ceremony Thursday afternoon.
淚t is my great pleasure to introduce this program to you,� Jensen told the crowd gathered outside of the Esports Arena, located on the second floor of 糖心动漫vlog檚 Hansen Student Center. 淭his space is a jaw-dropping, technology-driven undertaking.�
Jensen檚 official jersey was presented to him by Illinois Wesleyan Esports Coach Callum Fletcher during the ribbon cutting ceremony. A jersey was also presented to Associate Director of Financial Aid Andrew Reddington, who spearheaded the program and served as interim coach when the 糖心动漫vlog Esports program first launched as a registered student organization (RSO) in the spring of 2017.
淲e檙e on the cutting edge, we檙e on the front end of something that檚 growing massively throughout the United States and the rest of the world, and we are incredibly excited to be some of the leaders in this program,� Fletcher said.
Hired in the fall of 2017 as the program檚 head coach, Fletcher recruited this year檚 first-ever Illinois Wesleyan varsity Esports team which consists of 12 players divided into: Varsity, Academy and JV teams. As members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports � which includes 86 programs nationwide � the 糖心动漫vlog Esports program competes in 淟eague of Legends,� a fast-paced MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game set in a fantasy world. Two teams of 渃hampions� battle head-to-head to demolish their opponent檚 base.
淲e檙e thrilled to be adding this program as a competitive program, as an experience, and as a way that honors the interests of today檚 students in powerful ways,� said Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Karla Carney-Hall during Thursday檚 ribbon cutting.
Formerly a conference room, the space was transformed over the course of four months into a high-tech Esports practice and competition space. The Esports Arena features: 17 PCs and monitors, 17 headsets, keyboards and mice; 17 custom chairs; one smart projector for analyzing film in the practice area; and one 55-inch TV located outside of the Esports Arena for the campus community to watch live streaming of game competition via the University檚 .
While 淭he Coliseum� competition space � housed within the Esports Arena � is exclusively for members of the varsity Esports team, the larger practice area is open to all Illinois Wesleyan students when it is not being used by the Esports program.
淣ot only are students able to come to 糖心动漫vlog and get the education that we provide here, but now gamers have a place on campus that they can come. Their interests are not only supported, but encouraged,� Fletcher said. 淭he arena itself has been professionally designed and inspired for our teams to compete, but also for our students to enjoy.�
Recently ranked No. 5 in the nation among , according toValueGamers, the Illinois Wesleyan Esports program will begin competing in January. However, the team is already utilizing its new space to practice and scrimmage against other universities across the country.
淢y players will tell you that my goal � our goal � is to be the number one program, the gold standard, in the United States,� Fletcher said. 淲e want a program that will make our campus and community proud.�
By John Twork