Venue specialist Populous has proposed “North America’s first esports stadium” in Arlington, Texas.
The arena being designed for the City of Arlington and developer Esports Venues will be “the largest and most flexible esports stadium in the country” according to Populous.
Along with the main competition arena, the venue will contain a broadcast studio, hospitality suites, shops, gaming spaces and team training areas for esports – competitive computer gaming tournaments that can be streamed online or take place in front of a live audience.
“This esports stadium will transform the Arlington Convention Center and position the city as the epicenter for esports in the heart of North America,” said Brian Mirakian, senior principal at Populous.
The project will see the existing Arlington Convention Center converted into a 1,000-seat dedicated esports arena for gamers.
The $10 million (£7.1 million) project will create a 9,290-square metre (100,000-square foot) venue named Esports Stadium Arlington.
Played by professional gamers, esports is watched by millions online. By 2020 the global audience for the computer gaming tournaments is predicated to be 600 million, with the industry generating £1 billion in revenue a year.
The rise of esports has seen live events take place in numerous venues around the world, including Herzog & de Meuron‘s Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing and the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. The continued demand from fans wanting to attend esports events is now leading to dedicated arenas being built.
In London Populous is creating a spherical venue that has been designed to be used for esports.
The City of Arlington believe the Esports Stadium Arlington will help the city become a centre for this new emerging digital sport.
“I know the gaming community across the globe is going to fall in love with this stadium and with Arlington,” said Arlington mayor Jeff Williams.
“We’re ready for the biggest tournaments in the esports industry to call Arlington home.”
The arena is set to open its doors later this year. It will be located near major sports venues the AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Park.
Populous is currently working on several stadiums for traditional sports including the renovation of the modernist Seattle Stadium, and the David Beckham’s football stadium in Miami.
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