Collaboration and Investment Opportunities

Esports Collegiate League and Competitive Gaming

Ohio University is a founding member of the newly formed Esports Collegiate Conference. Bobcat Esports will field teams for national competition in games such as Overwatch, Rocket League, Hearthstone, and League of Legends. In addition to tournament and league play, these “varsity” teams will compete against other high-level collegiate teams and their home base will be the designated varsity play space in the new Esports Arena. As these teams train for the start of league play, they are creating team and tournament social media, designing team and fan jerseys and streetwear, and engaging in activities to grow their fanbase. These activities provide a solid entry point for premier partners to engage with the team and fans.

Bobcat Esports Center—A New Home for Gaming!

Coming online in Spring 2021: the Bobcat Esports Center. The arena will feature a tournament space, high-end gaming PCs for student and community play, and the latest software development tools for esports- and STEM-related courses. The space is in historic Scripps Hall in the heart of our Athens campus' “Engagement Corridor,” just over a block away from the center of Athens. Alongside the Esports Arena is our Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, an innovative and creative center for student, faculty, and staff research and project development.

Bobcat Esports Student Club

The Bobcat Esports student club is Ohio University’s largest organization of student gamers. With more than 500 remote members on Discord, and nearly 300 students on campus, Bobcat Esports is the club for students to immerse themselves in gaming and learn about the gaming industry. In addition to hosting industry panels for members and the broader university community, the club coordinates a variety of play opportunities with a range of games including Overwatch, League of Legends, CS:GO, Hearthstone, Rocket League, with more being added to keep pace with student interests as new games come to market.  

Throughout the year, Bobcat Esports coordinates several online gaming events, including club tournaments and broader community gaming days. Unique events that draw a broader audience have included students-versus-administrators grudge matches and participation of university sports coaches and players. Bobcat Esports club players will practice and compete in the new Esports Arena as well.

Intramural and University-Wide Esports and Gaming Events

Thousands of OHIO students identify as gamers. To meet the demand for a variety of social gaming experiences, OHIO’s intramural sports organization, often in partnership with Bobcat Esports, hosts a variety of gaming tournaments and events open to any university community members throughout the year. These events are streamed live, so spectators are part of the gaming experience. Likewise, each event engages a variety of students in supporting roles, including shout casters, content and chat stream managers, and network and computer technicians. These events typically involve cash and merchandise prizes awarded to winners and spectators.

Business of Games Summit

Annually, Ohio University hosts the Business of Games Summit (BOGS), which brings together players, developers, entrepreneurs, and other industry representatives to discuss the latest trends in the business of gaming and esports. This event is open to the public and participation is high among current OHIO students and regional high school students. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, networking and developer showcases, attendees learn from industry leaders, interact with potential employers, and connect to the OHIO gaming community. BOGS traditionally hosts a post-event gaming competition, open to attendees.