Hillsborough County Schools is opening a new esports arena at Sligh Middle School. It will be available to students starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.
10 Tampa Bay reported the opening Thursday morning. The 10 a.m. start is in the station's video description.
Pinellas Already Fielded Teams
The nearest reported school esports scene is in the next county. On May 13, the Tampa Bay Times said Pinellas County's program had doubled in size and was poised to reach nearly every high school by fall.
Pinellas had already put teams in one room. Its inaugural districtwide Spring Esports Tournament was held April 29 at the Dr. Michael A. Grego Leadership Institute in downtown Largo. Teams from eight high schools competed, including Largo and Jacobson Tech.
Rooms Other Districts Have Described
Districts farther away have been more specific about the hardware. FOX 26 Houston reported that Longview ISD unveiled the Lobo Gaming and Digital Science Esports Arena at LEAD Academy High School during a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 5. The space includes professional cameras, audio equipment, lighting and broadcasting technology, meant to give students experience in gaming, digital media and live event production.
That arena is part of a K-12 Gaming Science and Digital Media magnet pathway offered at Clarence W. Bailey Elementary, Forest Park Middle School and LEAD Academy. The program is supported through the Magnet Schools Assistance Program.
In California, ABC30 reported that Fresno Unified is converting an old wood shop at Tehipite Middle School into a nearly 7,000-square-foot Technology Hub and Esports Arena. The plan calls for a stage, video wall, snack bar, classroom, spectator seating and 50 workstations, and the district intends to use the facility as a districtwide competitive league center. Completion was expected within a year. The station said esports have been soaring in popularity over the years.
Thursday's clock time belongs to Sligh Middle. The spring bracket already belongs to Largo.
