AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron is investing $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to create two Esports rooms in city community centers, with the first scheduled to open in early summer.
Electronic sports, commonly known as Esports, are competitive video games where individuals or teams of players compete in tournaments for prize money and recognition. As with traditional sports, Esports athletes train and compete at a high level to secure top rankings in the games they play.
The phenomenon has taken off both in the U.S. and abroad. According to a recent Allied Market Research report titled, “Esports Industry,” the Esports market size in the U.S. was valued at $1.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $9.2 billion by 2033. Esports have also proliferated colleges nationwide. Locally, both the University of Akron and Kent State University have varsity teams and offer scholarships.
The first phase of the city’s Esports program will feature an ADA-accessible room at a community center, with plans to expand to another community center by mid-2027, according to Director of Neighborhood Assistance Eufrancia Lash. While the city hasn’t announced which community center will be the first to offer Esports, they are excited to offer the program to community members of all ages, according to Lash.
“We will partner with local schools like Akron Public Schools. Game selection will be cautious and focus on age-appropriate titles,” Lash told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. “The program aims to provide a safe, enjoyable space for both young and older eSports enthusiasts.”
Plans call for a room that can accommodate 12-16 players with additional space for spectators. The city is also planning to have console games available to play in the space, he said.
The city is planning to expand the program to a second community center by 2027. Lash credits Denico Buckley-Knight, the city’s Youth Opportunity Strategist, as key to advancing the project.
“This is for whomever would like to participate in Esports, but specifically for our young people, we think this is a great opportunity to give them this space that they can come to be safe. They can enjoy themselves, let their hair down and enjoy something that they enjoy doing. We’re looking forward to being able to unveil this at the beginning of the summer,” Lash said.
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