Esports Stadium Arlington is the biggest venue for esports and gaming events in North America. The 2,500-seat capacity venue is the first outside London to host the Esports Awards in 2019 and 2021. Fast-forward to 2024, and the esports stadium evolved into a multipurpose entertainment theater.
In May 2024, the Stadium became the top choice for the All-Elite Wrestling, a professional promotion for the sport. Since then, it has been a major player in all things entertainment. Similar to the Sphere in Las Vegas, the esports facility has attracted several large-scale events that promote tourism and boost revenue.
But how did this shift occur?
This new online casino news will take you through the transformation of Esports Stadium Arlington, from the partnerships to the events that have contributed to its success.
Esports Stadium Arlington: How It Shifted to a Popular Venue
Esports Stadium Arlington was formerly the Arlington Convention Center until March 2018, when the city of Arlington announced plans to create the biggest esports facility in North America. The city and Esports Venues LLC came together to reform the convention center for the purpose, with a $10 million operative cost.
Populous was given the design contract, and, six months later, the conversion was completed. On November 26, 2018, Esports Stadium Arlington was officially launched with the FACEIT Esports Championship Series Season 6 Finals. Besides hosting live esports competitions, the 100,000-square-foot facility is home to a Gaming Center with over 50 gaming stations operating 24/7.
The stadium also contains rare, modern training facilities, retail centers, production studios, and social spaces. Inside the facility, the competition center contains an 85-ft-long LED board, a dynamic lighting system, a massive 5.1 sound system, and a lot of ultramodern equipment.
Esports Stadium Arlington hosted several esports tournaments until 2020. It was shut down during COVID-19, but when it reopened in 2021, it hosted many more gaming events.
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Partnership With OpTic Gaming
Esports Stadium Arlington changed almost all its staff in December 2020. In January 2022, the facility partnered with OpTic Gaming as its new operator. OpTic Gaming is a giant and pioneer in the esports event space.
Under the operation of Optic Gaming, the role of the esports facility began to expand. OpTic Gaming hosted major tournaments and events for popular esports titles like Call of Duty, Halo, Dota 2, and Smite in Esports Stadium Arlington. Though the facility has been thriving since its opening, these blockbuster titles have attracted more visitors to the stadium and the city. It has also set the region on the radar for esports activities.
A Sought After Entertainment Center
Esports Stadium Arlington’s flexibility brought it to the limelight in the entertainment world. In May 2024, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), became a partner. AEW found the facility to be a magical place to host its wrestling events. During their three-month residency in the facility, six wrestling events took place, and ended in August.
Major Tournaments Hosted in Esports Stadium Arlington
Call of Duty League Championship Weekend is a premier esports event that draws in top teams globally. Halo Championship Series brings players together to compete in intense multiplayer battles for trophies and cash prizes.
The stadium hosted the 2022 PGL Dota 2 Major, marking the return of a Dota 2 major to North America after a six-year hiatus. The prestigious Esports Awards ceremony, which recognized the achievements and impact of esports professionals and organizations, was also held at Esports Stadium Arlington in 2019 and 2021.
Smash Ultimate Summit is an invitation-only tournament series that gathers the best Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players worldwide to compete in head-to-head matches. The AEW Dynamite and Rampage professional wrestling match is another event held at the Esports Stadium Arlington along with weekly live shows.
Esports Stadium Arlington was announced to be the venue that would host Sonic Expo 2024, a fan convention dedicated to the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Johnny Gioeli of Crush 40 was to be present at the event. However, for reasons not disclosed publicly, the Sonic Expo 2024 event was ultimately moved to the Mesquite Convention Center and Arena.
Closing: Similarity Between Esports and Casino Entertainment Venues
Esports Stadium Arlington reflects the rapid expansion of the entertainment industry. This trend is also evident in the casino industry.
Esports venues and casinos share the same common goal and strategy. They attract several large-scale events to increase awareness of their unique offerings. This, in turn, improves tourism and, hence, revenue. By hosting such events while using their high-profile facilities, both esports stadiums and casinos are able to maintain their competitiveness in entertainment.
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