Populous to provide new home for esports at Butler University
August 20, 2021
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By the time students arrive on the Butler University campus in fall 2022, a 7,500-square-foot space dedicated to esports and technology will be ready to welcome them back.
Designed by Populous, the multi-use space housed in Butler’s Sunset Avenue parking garage will be known as the Butler Esports Park. With high-performance gaming PC’s and consoles, event and coworking spaces, a cafe, office areas for partner organizations, and a studio and production room, the venue will provide a hub for the tech community while expanding on Butler’s growing presence in esports.
“It is truly a pleasure to be on the front lines of the esports facilities movement across North America,” said Brian Mirakian, Populous Esports Director for the Americas. “Esports and gaming are becoming widely accessible to audiences more than ever before. By bringing together gaming, innovation, and a dynamic creator environment, we are setting the stage for a new paradigm for student life and collegiate esports. We’re tremendously excited to integrate this state-of-the-art project into the fabric of the Butler campus.”
Butler Esports has been competing since 2017 and currently supports two titles that compete in the BIG EAST Conference: League of Legends and Rocket League. Beyond the BIG EAST, students can also compete in club esports titles in Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Rainbow Six, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and VALORANT.
Whether it’s hosting events or making way for new teams, the club’s members are excited about how the Butler Esports Park will help create new avenues for competition and production.
“Butler Esports has always been competitive, but this facility will allow us to take it to another level,” says Club Esports President Bryan Rogers. “The Butler Esports Park will help us grow the program to match the expanding world of competitive gaming. We are very excited to compete live in front of the Butler community and showcase the hard work of our players.”
The Populous-designed Butler Esports Park will set the trend within collegiate esports, further solidifying the city of Indianapolis as a hub for innovation. Other Populous projects in Indianapolis include the latest renovations to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“This is a transformational moment for collegiate esports and gaming. We’re thrilled for Butler University and for the great city of Indianapolis as they plant their flag as an epicenter for esports in North America with this project,” said Mirakian.
Butler Esports Park is the latest esports facility from Populous, creating new opportunities for students to compete at the highest level and find careers in the esports and gaming industry. Other esports facilities include Nerd Street Gamer’s HQ “The Block” and Esports Stadium Arlington.
For more information about our esports work, visit our website or contact Claire Kramer.