Work Progressing on South Bend Esports Arena
(rendering courtesy of Bendix Arena)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDespite delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, an effort to transform the Bendix Theatre in South Bend into an esports arena is moving forward. The South Bend Tribune reports officials hope to begin hosting tournaments at the arena by next summer.
The 600-seat arena, located inside the Century Center, was originally slated to undergo $2 million in renovations for the project. However, the publication reports the project may not receive full funding due to the economic impact of the pandemic.
Jeff Jarnecke, executive director of venues for the city of South Bend, tells the Tribune work has been completed on new flooring, carpeting and oversized seating. He says fiber-optic lines and other infrastructure have also been installed.
“By being an early adopter of esports, it shows the community is interested in innovation,” Jarnecke said. “It’s an investment in the future that will eventually pay dividends and it gives us a jumpstart on other communities coming out of the pandemic.”
In December, Bethel University announced it is partnering with the city as the university forms its own esports team. The university will use the arena for competitions, as well as a planned, 4,500-square-foot LAN cafe for practice.
The build out of the LAN cafe, which will be open to the public, has yet to begin and the final phase of the overall project will include the installation of video boards and sound equipment, among others, according to the publication.
You can read the full story from the South Bend Tribune by clicking here.