Calgary’s First Esports Arena Opens at Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College in Calgary, Canada has opened the city’s first esports arena.

The 70-seat venue includes more than $1m (~£745k) worth of tech, according to a report.

Per the report, the new arena in Bow Valley College’s South Campus is 3,500 square feet (325 square metres) in size and holds 40 gaming stations, two motion-rigged racing simulators, a broadcast suite and a dedicated training room.

The arena was funded by the college, which last year also received $5.5m (~£4.1m) in funding from the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) for its Digital Entertainment Nexus, allowing the college to train 675 people and grow 125 companies by 2028.

According to the report, the OCIF investment aims to grant access to programs in 3D animation, game development, esports, VR and podcasting. This is in the hopes of igniting growth and diversification by expanding career opportunities and fostering entrepreneurial endeavours.

On the opening of the new facilities, Misheck Mwaba, President and CEO of Bow Valley College, said: “We’re proud of the facility we’ve created here, but even more proud of the contribution it will make to the future of Calgary’s esports and digital entertainment industry. We exist to give students the skills they need to take their talents and dreams and apply them to careers that grow our province.”

Broader esports initiatives are not uncommon in Canada, with the province of Alberta having had its Alberta Esports Strategy written by a group that included Calgary Economic Development, Edmonton Screen Industries Office, Edmonton Global, Tourism Calgary, Explore Edmonton and the Alberta Esports Association. The strategy highlights key factors that can create the foundations of a robust esports ecosystem.

Esports initiatives have become a popular investment for educational institutions in recent years, both in terms of esports facilities as well as esports-focused courses.