State lawmakers, student esport athletes and esport program directors from high schools and colleges in our region met in the Harrisburg capitol for a press conference hosted by PA Esports Coalition and Harrisburg University.
Harrisburg University used the occasion to announce their next esports tournament, the PA Cup, which will include 16 esports teams from across the state. Teams will compete in “League of Legends,” “Overwatch” and “Hearthstone.” The tournament will take place over March 30-31, with finals held at Whitaker Center.
“The explosion of esports at colleges and universities has been incredible over the past 12 months,” Harrisburg University president Eric Darr said, observing that 40 schools in Pennsylvania have joined the National Association of Collegiate Esports since Harrisburg University joined the organization.
“We’re excited to bring the next great event to Harrisburg,” Darr added.
Harrisburg University hosted the HUE Festival last September, which brought schools from across the country to compete in “Overwatch” and “League of Legends” esport tournaments.
“I never thought this region would be on the forefront of esports,” said Harrisburg University esports program director Chad Smeltz, who grew up attending the Lower Dauphin school district. “It’s very surreal to see, and something I’m very proud of.”
The conference coincided with the passing of House Resolution 66, which declared that February 2019 would be Esports Month in Pennsylvania.
“A year ago, I had no idea what esports was,” said state representative Ed Nielson, who first learned of the booming esports audience from his son, a freshman at Temple University. “This is a growing economy across the country and across the world. And we’ve got to support it.”
Other speakers at the press conference also pointed out the link between STEM studies and esports in high schools and colleges, and the signs for growth among at-risk students and female students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields using esports as a tool to engage with students.
“Female gamers are three times more likely to study a STEM degree in college than those who don’t play video games,” added Bill Thomas of the Pennsylvania Esports Coalition. “We want to encourage our high schools and colleges to look at esports as support for STEM.”