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DENVER (KDVR) — With the help of a $1.2 million gift from Alienware, the University of Colorado Boulder has transformed a 1,275-square-foot space in the University Memorial Center into a state-of-the-art gaming and esports lounge.
UW-Boulder says the lounge is not only the first in the state, but also the second university facility in the nation. Another of his Alienware esports lounges is at Michigan State University, which also opened this year.
Alienware, a gaming brand from Dell Technology, equipped the university’s Alienware Buffalo Esports and Gaming Lounge with branded Aurora R16 desktop computers and m16 gaming laptops for open gameplay and varsity training.
Also included is a multiplayer console area and broadcast studio.
The lounge’s grand opening was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25, at approximately 3 p.m., and officials including Gov. Jared Polis were scheduled to participate in the celebration.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Dell to establish a high-tech gaming lounge on campus,” said Dr. D’Andra Mull, vice president for student affairs, in a UW-Boulder release. “For the success and well-being of our students, it is important that our Buffs have a space where they can feel at home and build community. The Alienware Buffalo Esports and Gaming Lounge is a valuable addition to the student experience at UW Boulder. It is a great asset.”
Alienware’s $1.2 million gift included enough funds to create an annual undergraduate scholarship for UW Boulder students.
Qualified applicants must be active participants in the CU gaming community, members of a gaming-focused student organization on campus, or employed in a gaming lounge.
“CU Boulder’s national recognition and thriving gaming community attracted Alienware to the university,” Alienware general manager Matt McGowan said in a CU Boulder release. “The growing popularity of esports on campus may give students the opportunity to experience our products and consider related career paths in computer science and other STEM fields.”
Esports is more than just entertainment, it’s an unusual career path
CU has a competitive esports team with recent big wins including a berth in the USA Western Conference Finals. Team CU Valorant Gold advanced to the finals of the Red Bull Campus Clutch Offline Rockies tournament and earned their spot.
CU Boulder’s second team, CU Valorant Black, also made it to the finals. The CU student has earned him first place and second place honors among Pokémon video game competitors in Colorado, one of which ranks him in the top 100 in North America. .
Esports is a growing industry, not just in the U.S. Gaming tournaments are held all over the world and draw thousands of viewers, some in-person and many online. Take IEM Cologne 2024 as an example. The event will be held in Cologne, Germany from August 16th to 18th and will feature 24 teams competing for a $1 million prize.
Fortune Business Insights shared that the esports market size is estimated to be approximately $1.45 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to up to $6.75 billion by 2030.
“Games on college campuses are more than just entertainment; they are a gateway to participation and a sense of belonging,” Erin Duce, director of the Center for Student Engagement, said in a UW Boulder press release. “We foster a community where students can come together, connect, and collaborate. Through the gaming lounge, we create a space where every student can learn and grow.”
Newzoo, a research firm that specializes in tracking the global gaming market, said in its annual analysis released last month that the number of players worldwide will reach 3.38 billion by 2023, an increase of 6.3% from a year ago, according to the Associated Press. predicted to reach humans.
Annual sales are expected to increase 2.6% to $187.7 billion.
The International Olympic Committee is keenly looking at the potential of video games and virtual sports to help attract and maintain young audiences, and this month created a formal esports committee focused on virtual sports. Established.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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