As Esports arenas continue to grow in popularity, new projects have been announced or Chicago and Tampa.
Surge Esports Stadium is set to open in Chicago for the Near South Side. The $30M arena, dedicated to Esports and Virtual Reality (VR) will create an immersive experience for up to 1,400 guests which are expected to include gaming participants and spectators. The arena is expected to cover more than 108,000sq ft and will include free-roaming space, dedicated to VR gamers and F&B options.
Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson, President of the Near South Planning Board, commented: “At this time when we need to return to some type of normalcy, this is an exciting project and something to look forward to.”
Over in Tampa, NFL stars, Steve Young and Jerry Rice are working with the Skills Center to build an Esports arena called 8 to 80 Zone. The facility is expected to be funded by Young and Rice’s Forever Young Foundation. “Jerry and I believe that parents of youth who are passionate about gaming should take time to understand the learning potential and opportunities that esports brings,” said Young.
