The University of 缅北禁地 Springfield held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 6 for a new cutting-edge esports gaming arena that will allow students to virtually compete against other collegiate teams in the United States.聽
鈥淭he addition of esports at UIS will give our students valuable skills they can use inside and outside of the classroom,鈥� said UIS Chancellor Janet L. Gooch. 鈥滶sports and STEM disciplines are natural partners and students who are drawn to gaming are often interested in the broader technology ecosystem. Students involved in esports develop STEM-related strategic thinking, planning and time management skills while also learning how to work well as a team.鈥�
鈥淓sports is a rapidly growing sport that is extremely popular for collegiate and high school-aged students,鈥� said James Koeppe, director of UIS Campus Recreation. 鈥淏ecause of this, universities are investing resources to allow students to play on campus with top-of-the-line equipment.鈥�
Located in a newly renovated space in Founders Residence Hall, the UIS Esports Arena features 13 computers that were built to meet the needs of competitive gaming. The arena also features a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. These tools will be used for both competitive gaming and recreational play.
鈥淎ny student is allowed to use the space, even if they are not interested in joining the team or even being part of the recreational club,鈥� Koeppe said. 鈥淭his was a major reason we purchased the consoles along with the PCs, as we want the space to be inviting to every student.鈥�
The competitive team, led by Coach William Rios, will be comprised of 15-25 students who will play in the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC). While currently focused on games like 鈥淩ocket League鈥� and 鈥淰补濒辞谤补苍迟,鈥� the UIS esports team aims to expand its offerings based on student preferences, potentially including titles like 鈥淪uper Smash Bros,鈥� 鈥淟eague of Legends鈥� and 鈥淥惫别谤飞补迟肠丑.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited for the new esports arena and for the potential it brings,鈥� Rios said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to starting competitive play, growing our team this season and expanding our game coverage.鈥�
The arena was made possible thanks to the generous financial support of the Springfield-based M.G. Nelson Family Foundation. The foundation鈥檚 support was pivotal in ensuring that UIS was able to outfit the arena with the latest technology and provide for future upgrades and needs.
鈥淎s a lifelong gamer and firm believer in the transformative power of gaming and esports, I couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled about the opening of the esports program and arena at UIS,鈥� said Mark Nelson, a member of the family foundation. 鈥淕aming has been a significant part of my life, honing invaluable skills like teamwork/communication, strategic thinking and perseverance. Now, with this initiative, students will have the chance to embrace their gaming passions while also gaining essential skills and relationships for life in and outside of college.鈥�
The idea to build the esports arena was first conceived by Jay Swenson, UIS assistant director of campus recreation, when he attended a National Esports Conference in March 2019. Now that the facility is open, Koeppe expects student interest to peak.
鈥淲e know offering this opportunity will both help recruit and retain students,鈥� Koeppe said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a way for students to get involved and more connected to UIS. It is also a co-curricular activity that reaches a wide range of students coming from various backgrounds.鈥�
Nelson said he plans to stay involved as esports grows at UIS and hopes to witness the same positive impact that gaming had on his life.
鈥淭he esports program will foster a sense of community, provide opportunities for personal growth and open doors to potential careers in the ever-expanding world of esports,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淚 am genuinely excited to see how this venture positively impacts the lives of countless students, just as gaming has done for me.鈥�