Esports Center Opened at Bowie State

Arena Will Cater to Competitive and Casual Gamers

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Saxon, jsaxon@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-3607

(BOWIE, Md.) – It’s a new day for current and aspiring gamers, as Bowie State University celebrated the opening of its new Esports Center on February 8, unveiling some of the latest computer and gaming technology to support the growing interest in epsorts.  

“I know a lot of students have been passing by, knocking on the door, saying ‘I want to work for your esports arena,” said Maurice Tyler, Bowie State’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer, during the opening of the approximately $575,000 facility. “We have the latest and greatest in technology. We have broadcast capability, so we can stream live from the facility. We will have both a casual gaming contingent and a professional, esports athlete contingent.” 

Dozens gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and to tour the facility which sits on the ground floor of the James E. Proctor Building.  With 12 high-performance gaming stations and an eRacing Simulator, it will serve as the official training space for Bowie State’s esports team participating in the CIAAand national competitions.  Participation is expected to increase with the gaming arena’s opening. Tyler announced that the center will feature board game activities for students.  

Tyler also noted that students who participate in Esports gain many benefits to include learning teamwork, increased hand-eye coordination and improved brain function. Many also develop interest in STEM careers. 

For second-year MBA student Jaquai Bell, the opening of the Esports Center is a “dream come true.” Bell, who serves as a coach for the Bowie State esports team, recalled how he wished there was a dedicated gaming space on campus that could serve as practice space for the team, as well as another recreational area for students that are casual gamers.  

“I said I wish they supported it,” said Bell. “Now my wish came true. It’s really amazing.” 

Also on site for the center’s opening were representatives for Verizon, which partnered with Bowie State during the center’s development. Candice Austin, director of Verizon’s state government and local affairs group, shared what it meant for the telecommunications giant to invest in Bowie State and its students. 

“It means the world. This is our future,” said Austin. “For us, we look at it as a pipeline of new talent that can come, not only to Verizon, but to other companies throughout the country. Verizon has been a long-time partner of Bowie State University, and we hope to continue that partnership.” 

Esports and gaming have been on the rise in recent years. According to demandsage.com, the esports global market is valued at over $2.39 billion. Esports also draws a global audience of over 540 million viewers with more than 40% of viewers coming from China and the Philippines.  

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.