Southeastern Oklahoma State University debuted an esports arena during the spring semester of 2022, continuing an upward trend in esports participation by the university.

Southeastern recently finished building the Southeastern Esports Arena in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union earlier this year.

According to SE.edu, the “state of the art” facility has 18 high-performance PCs designed for competitive gaming. The facility also boasts designated gaming rooms for Southeastern Esports varsity players to practice and compete in tournaments. The desktops are equipped with Valorant, Rocket League and Overwatch, the three games SEsports competes in.

SEsports Arena invites the casual gamer, sporting multiple gaming PCs and consoles that are free to use during open hours. The arena also has furniture for spectators who want to watch tournaments and other events.

Conversation among students proposes that they approve of the arena and the casual gaming opportunities that it brings to campus life. D’Angelo Shanks, a freshman who has spent time in the arena, shared his first impressions about the facility.

“The esports arena was amazing,” Shanks said. “I loved the vibe of the place and it looked great. I definitely plan to be there a lot throughout the year.”

SEsports representatives suggest that the arena has an impact on Southeastern’s campus life. Talk amongst officials indicates that the arena established a gaming community that is inclusive and welcoming to all kinds of gamers.

Dawson Meador, President of SEsports, shared his thoughts on the impact of the arena.

“The arena is a place for gamers to come together and build a community while having a competitive side to it,” Meador said. “It gives players the tools to play at the collegiate level, while giving students the opportunity to engage with people that share similar interests.”

Meador, also a team captain for the Rocket League team, talked about the effect the arena has on the SEsports.

“The arena helps us succeed in so many ways,” Meador said. “We have access to cutting edge technology that helps every player perform to the best of their ability. It just allows us to compete with the best as a team.”

According to talk among SEsports players, the arena proved great for the team, giving them the tools to perform to their standards. They claim to enjoy the increasing exposure of the program, including audiences that watch them to compete in games and tournaments. The team hopes that the arena will continue to resonate with campus life and increase the engagement in their program.