On August 15, Purdue University Recreation & Wellness (RecWell) opened the new Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge (APGL) at the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center (CoRec).
The new facility is approximately 2,000 square feet and offers 22 Alienware gaming PCs, three Alienware laptops located in an opening gaming area, a varsity training room, and a Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 in a console gaming space.
Mitch Nettesheim, the senior associate director of Programs at Purdue, said the genesis for the gaming lounge was a rise in student interest which recently began percolating.
“The APGL, the result of an incredible partnership with Dell Technologies and Alienware, was conceived nearly two years ago,” said Nettesheim. “Bringing a state-of-the-art gaming lounge into CoRec was a unique opportunity to fulfill our mission while serving a rapidly expanding interest on our campus and weaving holistic well-being into the fabric of the gaming community. In 2020, Purdue didn’t have a student esports club. This year there are eight clubs with over 4,000 participants.”
Gaming Lounge Features
The spaces within APGL are augmented with a broadcast studio for esports event streaming, as well as a tiered viewing gallery where students can connect and engage with the action.
To use the spaces, a Gaming Pass is required from RecWell. Early bird pricing for the pass was $110 and regular pricing is $125 per semester. Also included are invitations to tournaments, game takeovers, workshops, special guest speakers and exclusive Alienware product test/launch events.
“RecWell offers a wide range of fitness, wellness and recreational activities aimed at promoting the holistic well-being of students, faculty and staff,” said Nettesheim. “Now, thanks to the APGL, well-being evolves, providing gamers a place for social connection.”
According to Mike Warren, the senior director of Purdue RecWell, the esports ecosystem is now thriving, with thousands of students actively participating.
“Whether students are looking to get casually involved or compete at higher levels, we’re excited to support gaming here at Purdue RecWell and showcase the latest technology,” said Warren. “The gaming lounge will provide access to high-performance gaming equipment for all students.”
Esports Takeaways and Tips
Adding a new gaming space further enhances Purdue’s esports offerings, which is a growing area of focus across the industry. Matt McGowan, the general manager of Alienware, said esports gaming technology isn’t just about bolstering the next generation of gamers competing to their best abilities. Instead, it’s about inspiring the future of discovery.
“This partnership between Alienware and Purdue will empower players and support those gamers in becoming the next generation of innovators, engineers and researchers Purdue has built its academic reputation on,” McGowan added.
Visitors to APGL have responded positively to the new space. Beth McCuskey, the vice provost for Student Life at Purdue, said hearing the enthusiastic student feedback over the Alienware technology has been rewarding. “It validates Purdue’s investment in the space and our strategic partnership with Dell Technologies to embolden Boilermaker gamers — from novices to varsity-level players — to engage at the highest levels of esports competition,” she said.
For other industry professionals trying to find their own success with esports, Nettesheim said to listen to your students, find partners, cultivate resources and then watch your ideas come to fruition.“Finding a way to serve this segment of the campus/community in your recreation facility is a powerful opportunity,” said Nettesheim. “Expose, educate and engage gamers in well-being programs and service offerings, while building a vibrant social connection for them as well.”
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