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SUNY Canton unveils new 'eSports Arena'

Posted 8/27/18

CANTON -- SUNY Canton has opened what they say is "the first collegiate esports arena in the State University of New York system," which they describe as "one of the largest dedicated gaming …

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SUNY Canton unveils new 'eSports Arena'

Posted

CANTON -- SUNY Canton has opened what they say is "the first collegiate esports arena in the State University of New York system," which they describe as "one of the largest dedicated gaming installations in the Northeast."

The 1,800 square-foot gaming room went online with the start of classes as the home for the college's growing esports program. There will be a grand opening for what they call the "eSports Arena," featuring competitive gameplay in October.

"Our arena is modeled after a professional gaming environment," SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran said in a prepared statement. "The atmosphere and technology provide an overall immersive experience. It will give our students a competitive edge as they face off against rival college teams."

"This space is one of a kind in SUNY," Kyle Brown, assistant vice president of information technology, said in a prepared statement. "We've partnered with industry leader Extreme Networks to provide high-speed networking for the room and Alienware to equip the space with high-end Area 51 computers."

[img_assist|nid=241597|title=Alyssa Montgomery of Winthrop and Nathanial Anderson of Richland play Fortnite on two of SUNY Canton's Alienware Area 51 computers in the new eSports Arena.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=450|height=300]

Extreme's Smart OmniEdge and Automated Campus solutions deliver high-speed WiFi, management and analytics capabilities.

With 25 high-end gaming rigs, SUNY Canton now has the largest installation of Alienware machines in New York state, according to company representatives.

Each station is equipped with ergonomic gaming chairs, multicolored LED backlit mechanical keyboards and mice. The room itself has been retooled with indirect lighting, lockers for the students and a team meeting space that will double as a streaming station for live broadcasts. In addition to the high-end gaming computers, the college added stations with both Sony PS4 Pro and Microsoft Xbox One X consoles to add future gameplay options.

The room was funded through the SUNY Canton Provost's Office to facilitate further growth in the programs closely related to esports. In addition to Game Design and Development, the college offers Cybersecurity, Graphic and Multimedia Design and Technological Communications.

[img_assist|nid=241598|title=Brian Venard, a nationally recognized Hearthstone player, lines up a match in the brand-new eSports Arena. Venard is a Sports Management major from East Setauket who came to SUNY Canton for its esports program.|desc=|link=none|align=middle|width=450|height=300]

SUNY Canton became the first SUNY College to offer varsity esports in December 2018. Teams play as members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), the most prominent nationally recognized organization dedicated to competitive collegiate video gaming. The college also orchestrates matches through the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC), in addition to University League of Legends (ULOL).

"The new Roos eSports Arena is one of the top college competition spaces in the nation," Randy B. Sieminski, director of athletics, said in a prepared statement. "By adding this space, SUNY Canton has shown its strong commitment toward our esports future. As a result, we will continue to see an increase in student recruitment, engagement and retention, mirroring our traditional athletic offerings."

The college recently added both FIFA and Fortnite to its fall lineup. Other teams include Overwatch, League of Legends and Hearthstone.