GameWorks, a full entertainment and dining experience for millennials, teens and their families with seven locations nationwide, has announced that it will be rolling out eSports Lounges in four additional sites, making it the leading American eSports venue.
To complement the GameWorks locations already operating eSports Lounges, including Las Vegas, Denver and Seattle, effective in the 2019 first quarter, every GameWorks venue will become fully equipped with eSports Lounges. New locations will be operational as follows:
- Chesapeake, Va. (Norfolk/Virginia Beach) – February 28, 2019
- Schaumburg, Ill. (Chicago) – March 7, 2019
- Minneapolis, Minn./Mall of America – March 14, 2019
- Newport, Ky. (Cincinnati) – March 20, 2019
With its high-tech and high-touch eSports Lounges, GameWorks has created an optimal and comfy atmosphere. Each full-service, premium GameWorks eSports Lounge is equipped with, on average, 20-40 PCs and consoles and an extensive, and constantly updated, library of approximately 100 of the most popular video games.
Players can engage one another casually or participate in any of the estimated 200 tournaments held at GameWorks’ locations monthly. The expansion to all seven GameWorks locations is expected to attract players and enthusiasts to the numerous individual local and regional tournaments each venue will host. With Lounges open in every site, eSports teams, leagues and game publishers can host tournaments in all time zones. Oftentimes, these events are streamed via live streaming platforms such as Twitch, providing connectivity with many other gamers in real time.
“eSports is rapidly gaining momentum worldwide. As an established leader in competitive gaming and entertainment, GameWorks is well positioned to capitalize on this burgeoning space. Our strong foothold in eSports – now that we’ll have Lounges in every location – further strengthens our leadership position and will serve as a springboard for future growth. We are evolving right alongside this exciting new world of eSports, and by partnering with best-of-breed eSports industry constituents – publishers, players and leagues – we’re bringing players and spectators exactly what they want.” said Philip N. Kaplan, chief executive officer at GameWorks.
eSports Lounges at GameWorks typically accommodate up to 100 guests, and feature multiple personal play stations and several large couches, providing ample seating for players and spectators alike. To further enhance gameplay, guests can order food and drinks from GameWorks’ new Modern American restaurant, The Works Kitchen at GameWorks, which are delivered directly to their seats.
“With a 20-year track record and solid reputation in the gaming and entertainment space, we’re leveraging our leadership position in competitive play, arcade games, food and entertainment. GameWorks is the only entertainment concept that now offers an entirely integrated entertainment experience, combining the popularity of eSports with the most in-demand arcade and redemption games, exceptional prizes and an eclectic, chef-driven restaurant. It’s truly an exciting and transformative time for our Company and the industry,” Kaplan concluded.
According to IDG Consulting, a specialty research, consulting and data analytics firm focused on gaming and eSports, the global digital gaming industry is expected to increase 17% year-over-year and reach $138 billion in 2018. IDG expects the market to grow at a five-year compounded annual growth of eight percent and hit $177 billion by 2022.
Yoshio Osaki, president and chief executive officer of IDG Consulting, added: “GameWorks’ national eSports platform further extends the Company’s ability to capitalize on the booming eSports industry and affords it many opportunities for leading the way in this marketplace. With a national footprint and the capabilities to continue to expand, no other entity has the breadth and depth that GameWorks has within its Lounges and across its national eSports platform. GameWorks combines unparalleled industry experience, massive space and state-of-the-art technology, all key components necessary for leading the way in terms of hosting tournaments and special events of any size and becoming the go-to entertainment space that can continue to meet the evolving needs of gamers.”
GameWorks eSports Lounges can be rented privately for events, such as local tournaments and birthday parties, as well as youth group or school overnight lock-ins, just to name a few.