Will Compete Nationwide in World’s Fastest Growing Sport
Richmond, VA – ECPI University is proud to announce it is expanding its eSports team to include all Richmond campus locations. Competing as the ECPI University Rams, the University’s Virginia Beach and Newport News campuses were among the first schools to join the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) and now competes against more than 130 colleges and universities across the nation.
Signing day for Richmond students is scheduled for Friday, May 31 at 10:00 am at the Richmond/Innsbrook campus, located at 4305 Cox Road in Glen Allen. Twenty-one students will receive scholarships of between $1,600 and $3,200 with the potential to earn an additional $5,000 if they make the playoffs in the national tournament.
“ECPI University has a longstanding tradition of leading the way locally and nationally for non-traditional learning and success,” says ECPI University Athletic Director Mike Glover. “eSports is growing fast, and this is something our students are telling us that they want as a part of their college experience.”
For those unfamiliar with the eSports phenomena, it is developing at an exponential rate. No longer confined to local banquet halls, these events are now full-blown spectator sports, selling out venues like Madison Square Garden and Staples Center. And experts say this is just the beginning.
Not long ago, The Wall Street Journal reported that eSports revenue will reach $1.5 billion by 2020. Moreover, the Philadelphia 76ers recently purchased the UK-based professional team, DIGNITAS. There’s even efforts underway to make eSports part of the Olympics.