UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, center, cuts the ribbon on Rowdy’s Esports Arena with, from left, the university’s mascot, Adam Dunbar, UMass Lowell’s director of student center and gaming operations and Miles Foster, a UMass Lowell mathematics master’s student from Westford who assists with arena operations. (Photo: Henry Marte for UMass Lowell)
LOWELL – Game on! UMass Lowell’s newly opened Rowdy’s Esports Arena is ushering in a new era of student-focused activities that foster connection and engagement on campus.
Named for UMass Lowell mascot Rowdy the River Hawk, the 2,500-square-foot, $4.5 million gaming hub features state-of-the-art computer consoles and other amenities on the lower level of the River Hawk Shop inside University Crossing student center.
“This is a place for students to engage and build community,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, who joined faculty, staff, students and friends to cut the ribbon to open the facility during a brief dedication ceremony in late January. The input of students, she noted, was central to shaping the project.
Appointed with a vibrant color scheme, Rowdy’s Esports Arena features 50 personal computer (PC) stations, including 38 for recreational play and 12 varsity-level systems equipped with the latest NVIDIA graphics cards. There are also console gaming stations with Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 machines, a lounge, a live-broadcast room, a dedicated team room for video-on-demand review and comfortable banquette seating.
In esports, shorthand for “electronic sports,” single players or teams participate in competitive video gaming in structured leagues and tournaments. It is one of the fastest growing activities on college campuses, with more than 300 varsity-level programs across North America sanctioned by the National Association of Collegiate Esports. The organization’s varsity teams meet defined standards for competition, structure and institutional support. Globally, the esports industry is projected to top $5 billion this year through advertising, sponsorships and merchandise sales.
Rowdy’s Esports Arena is open to UMass Lowell students seven days a week. Gamers of every ability are welcome; the university is also fielding varsity esports teams to play in the space.
Adam Dunbar, UMass Lowell’s director of student center and gaming operations, oversaw the three-year project, which was developed in partnership among JCJ Architecture, Vantage Builders and UMass Lowell. CDW-G, a leading IT solutions company, helped sponsor the project.
Calling the new arena a “showstopper,” Dunbar thanked all for their efforts building out “a place students can call their own, where they can create community in new and exciting ways.”
While the university is still in the early stages of developing a varsity esports program, more than 500 students have already joined a growing esports community on campus, according to Miles Foster, a UMass Lowell mathematics master’s student from Westford who assists with arena operations.
The interest in the arena does not surprise him.
“Video games are one of the most powerful storytelling and social mediums that exist today,” he said. “They bring people together around shared challenges and shared worlds, and this arena gives students the tools to experience that at whatever level of play they choose.”
The new esports program complements UMass Lowell’s longstanding recreational and intramural programs for students overseen by the Division of Student Affairs.
UMass Lowell computer science majors Salma Boukdad, right, and Jeannine Al Attal play Fortnite at Rowdy’s Esports Arena. (Photo: Edward Brennen for UMass Lowell)
