Long Term Investments Proposal Form – eSports Center At the February 25 th Board of Trustee meeting, the Trustees directed staff to prepare a list of investments that would help position CWU for the post-COVID environment. The investments also should help CWU distinguishes itself from other institutions of higher education. For this purpose, “investments” could mean something new, more of something we are currently doing, or something to mitigate liabilities that could inhibit future success. These investments should align with the three institutional priorities articulated by President Gaudino:
retention, workforce diversity, sustainability. 1. Short descriptive name for investment:
Student eSports Center
2. Investment Description:
• What does the investment buy and whom or what purpose does it serve?
This investment proposes an adaptive reuse project of the vacated Computer Center building, or other suitable location. This renovation would allow for the establishment of an eSports facility where students can gather and engage in eSports activities. University eSports venues have been shown to enhance student engagement and retention as well as drive up enrollments of like-minded students. According to a study performed by Pew Research, 97% of students between the ages of 12-17 play video games 1 . The global eSports market was valued at USD 1.48 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.4% from 2021 to 2027 2 . The increasing audience reach and engagement opportunities for universities presents a significant growth potential. Students are considering eSports as a professional career owing to the increase in popularity of the gaming tournaments, impressive international prize pools, streaming revenues, and one-to-one sponsorships. Moreover, universities and colleges are starting dedicated eSports curriculum to develop skilled professionals. And it is not only universities that are adding eSports to their curriculum; hundreds of high schools have launched dedicated eSports programs alongside their traditional soccer and football teams. There are currently 175 colleges and universities that have varsity level eSports programs 3 . There are also opportunities for community engagement and corporate sponsorships. 1 https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2008/09/16/teens-video-games-and-civics/ 2 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/22/2214832/0/en/Global-e- sports-market-size-to-showcase-24-4-CAGR-over-2020-2027.html 3 https://www.ncsasports.org/college-esports-scholarships/varsity-esports
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