An opportunity to lead the way
Full Sail to launch esports arena early next year
A new 11,200-square-foot arena dedicated to competitive gaming will open at Full Sail University early next year in the school’s effort to establish itself as one of the leading esports locations in the country.
The space will support Full Sail’s esports team, known as The Armada, which started competitive play early this year in a handful of games.
The facility could also eventually support competitive gaming efforts related to the Orlando Magic or the WWE, according to a release.
“It’s an opportunity for Full Sail to take the lead nationwide,” said Josh Mora, the school’s executive director for strategic partnerships. “Having the venue space really seems to be the right move right now and when you combine it with, not only our own understanding of the industry, but external forecasts to see where employment opportunities are for graduates, it felt like the right time to go full bore with our initiatives.”
He referred questions about the Magic to the team, which did not respond to a request for comment.
The news comes less than two months after a gunman shot and killed two esports players at a Madden tournament in Jacksonville before turning the gun on himself.
That incident brought esports security into focus, but Mora said Full Sail’s experience with live events means the campus has long had safety in mind.
Full Sail has a dedicated campus security team and often partners with Orange County Sheriff ’s Office for live events, while also deploying other safety measures like metal detectors and technology.
The $6 million arena will have space for up to 500 spectators, with the ability to potentially host other activities, including drone racing. It will also include a separate practice space for The Armada.
Full Sail has been planning the space, which will be known as The Fortress, for two years, with an expected opening of early next year. The University of California at Irvine about two years ago opened a 3,500-square-foot space devoted to esports.
The growth of esports has been directly tied to how well advertising can be sold, said Ben Noel, executive director of UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy.
Already, large companies have jumped on as sponsors for major tournaments and even professional other players.
“To make it viable, you need to sell advertising,” he said. “If you can get your team and facility broadcast through Twitch, for example, you can probably sell some advertising.”
Esports has seen immense growth during the last several years, with some tournaments drawing total viewership of nearly 50 million.
In 2017, 28 million people tuned in to watch the deciding game of Major League Baseball’s World Series.
“The best way to think about esports is to think about it the way you think about traditional sports,” said Sean Pinnock, founder of the virtual reality esports company Cyber Dream. “When there are a lot of people who love doing something and they want to compete, you build a community around that. A lot of people are still figuring out the value of esports.”
The Full Sail facility will be able to accommodate as many as 100-player teams competing in games like “Rocket League,” “Smash Brothers” and “League of Legends.”
The school has hosted esports competition in the past, most recently hosting the Florida Mayhem, which plays in a competitive “Overwatch” league.
“This is a sneaky-large business already and it’s only going to get much bigger,” Mora said. “If Central Florida can be a home for esports, an epicenter of esports, that’s another reason people will come to this area to stay in hotels, eat at our restaurants and all of that.”