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The state-of-the-art gaming facility gives students a chance to explore the intersection between personal interests and career goals as the multibillion-dollar industry continues to heat up.
Florida International University and Alienware announced a new partnership yesterday with the unveiling of a 3,042-square-foot, state-of-the-art gaming lounge in the university’s student union in honor of National Video Games Day.
Supported by a gift from Alienware and its parent company, Dell Technologies, the new Alienware FIU Esports Lounge has been outfitted with 39 gaming stations equipped with Alienware’s best-in-class PC gaming hardware, including high-performance PCs and monitors, competition-ready keyboards and mice, high-definition headsets, ergonomic gaming chairs, and more.
The Alienware FIU Esports Lounge launch celebration took place on the university’s main campus and was attended by esports industry leaders, university leadership, and local elected officials. Festivities included tours of the new facility, friendly face-offs between students, and guest appearances by competitive esports influencers Team Liquid and Hungrybox.
The lounge’s grand opening marks a key milestone in FIU’s multifaceted strategy to foster a “culture of esports” at the university that supports students who have an interest in gaming through academic programming, nationally competitive team play, and intramural comradery. The goal is to help students cultivate their passion for gaming into fulfilling and potentially lucrative careers in an industry that is projected to reach $5.7 billion worldwide by 2028.
Interest in esports has sky-rocketed at FIU, with the student-run Panther Esports Club topping 600 members this year and the university Discord servers convening around 2,700 students, alumni and community members online. University-sponsored competitive teams are top-ranked nationally: FIU’s varsity team for the popular game Rocket League ranked among the top four out of more than 100 universities in the 2024 Collegiate Conference Series playoffs.
FIU English major Alec Aguila, son of Alienware Co-founder Alex Aguila, has naturally been around esports his entire life. So he appreciates the opportunity to continue to play competitively at FIU while preparing to enter the industry after graduation.
“What I really like about it is that esports is a great equalizer… If you’re really good at the mechanics of it, on the keyboard, with the controller, and if you have mental toughness, you can propser and persevere. It’s a beautiful thing, because it can unite so many different people from so many different avenues and backgrounds. It’s really nice to see us come together. With esports, anybody can get into it. Anybody can be good at it,” Aguila said.
In response to rising student interest, FIU developed an online esports marketing certificate program, with coursework focusing on digital marketing, consumer behavior, sales, player health and wellness, and large-scale event logistics. Additionally, the university is constructing an interactive learning arena, which also will serve as a site for future tournaments. Furthermore, FIU launched an esports department in the Division of Academic & Student Affairs last year, which manages cross-disciplinary programming and events open to all students, including the Panther Games Expo, FIU’s annual gaming convention.
“Innovation and creativity come together at FIU to accelerate our students’ success and provide opportunities for our 56,000 students and over 320,000 alumni to become leaders in their fields. This partnership with Alienware elevates our effort to offer the growing population of Panthers interested in the gaming industry – regardless of major – the chance to explore how they can combine their skills and interests to build rewarding careers in esports,” said FIU Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth M. Béjar.
“Together, Alienware, a leading PC gaming company that was founded in Miami, and FIU, Miami’s preeminent public research university, make a powerhouse duo poised to develop the next generation of esports industry leaders,” said Béjar.
The lounge at FIU is the latest and largest installation to date in a nationwide initiative by Alienware to bring high-quality gaming tech to students at universities where esports is rooted in campus life.
“It was here in a Miami garage on Oct 15, 1996, that marked the launchpad for a daring new company with the vision of building custom, high-performance gaming computers for gamers everywhere,” said General Manager of Alienware Matt McGowan. “Nearly 30 years later, the state of PC gaming and esports has transcended our wildest imagination, and it’s all thanks to academic institutions like FIU who are unlocking opportunities for students to pursue competitive and professional careers in gaming.”
Photos and video from the event can be downloaded here.
