Rowan University Partners With N3rd Street Gamers to Kick Off Esports Program

GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University and N3rd Street Gamers, the national network of esports facilities and events dedicated to powering competitive opportunities for gamers, are entering into a unique partnership that will develop into one of the region's largest collegiate esports gaming and academic programs.

N3rd Street Gamers will invest over $1 million in the construction and development of a 7,500-square-foot gaming facility on Rowan Boulevard in Glassboro that also will include a broadcast studio and other amenities for use in collaboration with the university.

"Esports has evolved well beyond playing games. The most important aspect for Rowan is its academic component," says Rowan President Ali A. Houshmand. "It will offer our students hands-on training—via internships—and knowledge in a variety of fields that will prepare them to become leaders in technology, engineering, business, computer programming and even broadcasting as it applies to this emerging industry."

Rowan will work collaboratively with N3rd Street Gamers to develop curricula relating to the esports industry, establish internship opportunities, and create club and varsity-level teams.

Rowan's Board of Trustees voted in mid-September to initially allocate $230,000 this academic year to purchase memberships for students to the N3rd Street Gamers network and provide them access to their gaming equipment free of charge.

"Gaming is no longer just a form of entertainment. There are legitimate careers to pursue within this industry, but the paths aren't always clear," says N3rd Street Gamers CEO John Fazio. "This premier esports facility will give Rowan University students and the surrounding community the opportunity to learn both technical and professional skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives."

N3rd Street Gamers is an esports network headquartered in Philadelphia. It serves semi-professional, amateur, and competitive gamers by creating social and competitive environments for live competitions and tournaments. The Rowan University facility will be modeled off existing N3rd Street Gamers esports venues in Philadelphia and Denver.

About Esports
According to Deloitte Consulting, it is expected that there will be 600 million esports participants and fans worldwide by 2020. Tournaments are televised nationally and regularly sell out the country's largest arenas. More than 120 varsity collegiate programs are members of the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE).

"The esports industry encompasses elements of computer science (programming, video game development), communication (video production, graphic design, broadcasting), and business (sales, event management)," says Rowan Provost Tony Lowman.

"This partnership has come at an opportune time, as the university has already begun incorporating these aspects of esports into existing curricula. Rowan is also creating certificate programs that will provide students and professionals with credentials and training to work in the industry. This partnership allows Rowan the opportunity to develop this even further and translate curriculum into practice," adds Lowman.

Rowan ESports Xtreme Tournament
The university will kick off its esports initiative with a day-long tournament for students enrolled at Rowan University and its Rowan College partner schools on Saturday, October 19. The University is expected to start recruiting for its teams early in the spring semester.

About Rowan University
Rowan University is the fourth-fastest-growing public research university in the country. Enrollment this fall is 19,600. The NSG facility will be located on Rowan Boulevard, a mixed-use corridor developed through a public-private partnership that features classrooms, restaurants, retail stores, a Barnes & Noble Collegiate Superstore, and a Marriot Courtyard hotel. Rowan Boulevard is home to more than 3,000 students.

About N3rd Street Gamers
N3rd Street Gamers (NSG) is a national network of esports facilities and events dedicated to powering competitive opportunities for gamers. The company promotes greater access to the esports industry, laying a national framework for esports talent development and high-quality gaming tournaments. NSG has received early backing from SeventySix Capital, a premier sports tech venture capital firm, and Comcast Spectacor. For more information, please visit www.nsg.gg.

Featured

  • i-PRO, NovoTrax Partner for New School Emergency Response Solution

    i-PRO Americas, Inc., which manufactures edge computing cameras, recently announced a partnership with NovoTrax, provider of end-to-end life safety and mass notification solutions, to address gaps in emergency response workflows at K–12 schools, according to a news release.

  • Design Firm Populous Acquires Fentress Architects

    Design firm Populous, which specializes in sports and entertainment venues, recently announced its acquisition of Fentress Architects, based in Denver, Colo., according to a news release. Fentress’ primary focus is aviation projects and public buildings like museums, convention centers, and government facilities

  • Kimball International Launches Season 5 of Alternative Design Podcast

    Commercial furnishings manufacturer Kimball International recently premiered the fifth season of its Alternative Design podcast, according to a news release. The first episode was released on March 17, and new episodes will launch monthly. The podcast discusses forces that shape built environments, from work to housing to healthcare to human wellness.

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

Digital Edition