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Redbird Esports

Facilities

Esports Arena and Gaming Area

In October, the Board of Trustees approved a $5.95 million renovation to the Bowling and Billiards Center (BBC) that will transform the event room in the building’s south end into an esports arena and gaming area. The completed space will be one of the largest of its kind in the nation at over 11,000 square feet and feature 72 high-end gaming PCs, dedicated team showcase spaces, the most popular and latest generation gaming consoles, space for tabletop games, a broadcast and production booth, and student support rooms.

The main area default layout includes 72 high-powered gaming machines as well as a four-sided display that can show broadcasts of Redbird Esports competitions. The varsity rooms are separated from the main space by a glass wall. The arena will also have Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X consoles available for casual student use.

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The Vault

The Vault serves as the secondary practice and competition space for Redbird Esports varsity teams. Redbird gaming clubs can also reserve the space to schedule practices, competitions, and social gaming events.

The Vault hosts multiple classroom sessions for Kinesiology & Recreation and Creative Arts & Technology.

What's Included

The Vault
  • 25 High performance gaming PC's
  • 240 hertz 1 ms Alienware gaming monitors
  • Vertagear ISU custom gaming chairs
  • SteelSeries TKL mechanical Keyboard
  • SteelSeries ambidextrous mouse
  • SteelSeries Arctic Pro Headset
  • A variety of free-to-play games preinstalled
  • A variety of the most popular paid game titles free to use
  • The ability for students to download any game they own a license to

You can also bring own peripherals, controllers, and games.

Location

The Vault is located on the second floor of the Student Fitness Center. The main entrance can be found directly behind the climbing wall.

Reserve a Gaming Facility

Available spaces:

  • The Vault
  • Redbird Gaming Complex in the Former Bowling and Billiards Center

To request a reservation contact Kyle Abel via email krabel@IllinoisState.edu or phone at (309) 438-2555.

Space is not guaranteed, and all reservations are subject to change. Please submit all requests at least two weeks in advance of the event; the earlier the request is made, the better we can accommodate. Hosting Redbird Gaming clubs are responsible for all damage and policy violations committed by club members and/or spectators when using Campus Recreation facilities.

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance or the club may be charged the standard rental rate for the facility. Contact Kyle Abel via email krabel@IllinoisState.edu or phone at (309) 438-2555 to request a cancellation.