Esports Stadium Arlington

Esports Stadium Arlington (ESA) is a North American esports facility located in Arlington, Texas. The 100,000 sqft venue is the largest dedicated esports facility in North America and holds 2,500 spectators.

Esports Stadium Arlington
Address1200 Ballpark Way
Arlington, Texas, TX 76011
Coordinates32.7551°N 97.0820°W / 32.7551; -97.0820
OwnerCity of Arlington
OperatorOpTic Gaming
Capacity2,500 (seated)
Construction
OpenedNovember 26, 2018 (2018-11-26)
Construction cost$10 million
ArchitectPopulous
BuilderHenderson Engineers
Project managerGary Berlin
General contractorTom Hoffman
Website
esportsstadium.gg

Description

Esports Stadium Arlington measures 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of total space and has the capacity to hold 2,500 seated spectators.[1]

History

In March 2018, the city of Arlington announced plans to develop the largest esports stadium in the United States that was scheduled to open later that year.[2] The project was collaboration between the city, Esports Venues LLC, which is owned by Texas Rangers co-owner Neil Leibman, Populous, who designed the stadium, and NGAGE Esports.[3][4]

The venue officially opened on November 26, 2018.[5]

In December 2020, all but two of Esports Stadium Arlington employees were laid off. President Jonathon Oudthone left the company for undisclosed reasons,[6] with Luke Bauer, chairman of the Texas Rangers ownership committee, becoming the new president of the venue.[7]

In January 2022, esports and gaming company Envy Gaming acquired the operating contract for Esports Stadium Arlington from Esports Venues LLC.[8]

Events

The venue's first hosted event was FACEIT's Esports Championship Series Season Six Finals, a global competition for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in November 2018.[5] After shutting down operations due in February 2020 to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ESA hosted its first live event since the pandemic began — a match between the Dallas Fuel and Houston Outlaws of the Overwatch League in July 2021.[9]

References
  1. "Welcome to the Esports Stadium Arlington". Arlington.org. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. Igel, Lee (March 14, 2018). "Arlington, Texas, Announces Plans To Build Largest Esports Stadium In U.S." Forbes. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  3. Dachman, Jason (January 29, 2019). "Inside Esports Stadium Arlington, North America's Largest — and Most Flexible — Esports Venue". Sports Video Group. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  4. Fragen, Jordan (March 14, 2018). "Infinite Esports & Entertainment and Arlington, TX, Partner to Build Esports Stadium". The Esports Observer. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  5. Gempel, Natalie (November 21, 2019). "The Country's Largest Esports Stadium Opens in Arlington This Weekend". D Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  6. Hitt, Kevin (December 8, 2020). "Sources: Major Layoffs Hit Esports Stadium Arlington". The Esports Observer. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. Hitt, Kevin (December 9, 2020). "Esports Stadium Arlington's New President Talks About Path Forward and Public Comments from Current and Former Employees". The Esports Observer. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  8. Swanger, Ben (January 13, 2022). "Dallas-based Envy Gaming Acquires Esports Stadium in Arlington". D Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  9. Zheng, Lili (July 9, 2021). "Arlington Stadium Hosts First Live Esports Competition Since Pandemic Began". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
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