The ASU Esports Association announced that they will be teaming up with ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to create an on-campus esports facility.
When completed, the facility will include 12 computers. The facility will also be open to the public on a pay-to-play system.
ASU Esports has struggled to gain university support over its lifespan, but with the announcement of this facility, the organization has won an important first battle.
“It’s something that we’ve been working towards for 3 years now and to finally get the recognition was like a light at the end of the tunnel telling us that this was all worth it”, said President Jake Matson.
The final cost of the facility is still unknown. But, the organization does not have enough funds as of now to support the final product. In order to help fund the cost of the facility, they has started a gofundme page under the direction of Vice President Dani George.
When asked about her feelings when the project was approved, George said, “As basic as it is this recognition means the world to me and the club. What it means literally is that our efforts have finally had some result and all our hard work hasn’t been for nothing.”
In a video George posted on Twitter and YouTube, she describes the need for community support for this project. “Right now, we plan on using the school desk already in the classroom in an attempt to cut cost”, George said in the video.
Donors who donate a sum of $100 or larger are promised to have their name displayed in the facility when it is complete. The final goal for the fundraising project is $5,000.
The campaign raised over $3,000 on its first day. Donations are coming from everywhere, including rival esports programs at the University of California Irvine and other non-ASU students.
“[W]hile we were making the go fund me we were considering having the goal be 1k since we didn’t think we would get this much support,” George said after seeing the first day’s total,”
5k was a crazy stretch goal and I think we might make it. It blows my mind I’m so so thankful”
The final construction date for the facility is still unknown.
But George feels that this facility will propel ASU Esports to the next level, “[O]ur teams are almost all top 20 in the nation some of which have players on bad computers and internet. If we can have a central unit where teams can practice, communicate, and have a stable working ground I can guarantee there will be even more success and titles when this room is complete.”
It took the club only three days to reach the $5000 goal. They have decided to raise their goal to $8,000.
The new facility is a momentous step for the ASU Esports program towards becoming one of over 170 schools across America with fully recognized varsity esports programs.
