Add as a preferred source on Google

Ball State University Debuts Esports Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/06/21

Ball State University, located in Muncie, Ind., held a virtual ribbon cutting for its new Esports Center this week. The ceremony was livestreamed on the BSU website on Monday, April 5. The 3,600-square-foot facility will serve as the home of the College of Communication, Information, and Media’s new Esports program.

The Ball State Esports team is one of 12 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), a branch of the nascent, independent Esports Collegiate Conference. The conference features divisions in the popular video games League of Legends, Rocket League, and Overwatch.

Ball State University Esports Center

“We’re ecstatic to officially unveil our new home,” said the director of Ball State’s Esports program, Dan Marino. “At Ball State, our beautiful campus is our canvas. This Esports Center is our University’s latest addition, which improves the sense of place for our students.”

According to a press release, the Esports Center (located in the Robert Bell Building on campus) features amenities like:

  • Computers for varsity team and educational use
  • An Elevated Gameplay platform that accommodates 6 vs. 6 gaming competitions
  • Stadium seating with a capacity of 50
  • Interactive classroom with a smart display
  • A lounge area with video-game consoles
  • A control room for live, multicamera, and gameplay streaming of events and competitions
  • Administrative offices for the esports director and graduate assistants

The Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media, Dr. Paaige Turner, said of the new facility, “Our program and new facilities will help us achieve our goal of enhancing academic offerings by bringing esports experiences into curricula across multiple disciplines including digital sports production, business, computer sciences, animation, and sport administration.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

Digital Edition