Another Houston-area college is doubling down on the competitive gaming space.
Lone Star College-University Park plans to build out a new space for esports on its northwest Houston campus this summer, the college announced July 28. The lounge will feature 12 to 14 stations with powerful gaming PCs, ergonomic gaming chairs, wall-mounted TVs for spectators and other features desired by gamers. The esports lounge will be an extension of LSC-University Park's campus student life space, the Lion's Den, which also includes study rooms and a meditation space.
Gaming was in demand by students at LSC-University Park, the college said. That became clear during the pandemic, when four separate virtual gaming tournaments were offered to students. The tournaments, which included popular titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty and Overwatch, typically drew over 100 students.
"Having a diverse and dynamic student life on campus is a major component of student success at LSC-University Park," said Sarah Ray, manager of student activities. "Gaming is similar to social media in that there is a passion and desire for it among college students."
On the LSC-University Park campus, esports will begin as a student club with student coaches and captains. The college aims to complete the build-out of its esports lounge this fall in time for tournaments in spring 2022.
LSC-University Park was established in 2012 and is located near the intersection of Highway 249 and Louetta Road. The Lone Star College System purchased the buildings and adjacent property for LSC-University Park from Hewlett Packard Co. for $12.6 million.
The University of St. Thomas is another local higher education institution that sees opportunity in competitive gaming. Earlier this year, UST built out a student esports center in a roughly 300-square-foot space in the basement of the Doherty Library on its campus in Montrose.
UST also fields competitive teams playing titles including Overwatch, League of Legends and Rocket League. Students recruited to UST's esports program are receiving either award money from the university of scholarship money from the esports program itself. The university also aims to offer academic classes about the gaming business, digital communications, coaching and more. UST plans to offer a minor program centered around esports coaching beginning in the upcoming fall semester.
