Bethel University launching esports team in 2020

MISHAWAKA, Ind.—On Friday, the Bethel University Athletic Department announced that the school will form an esports team.

The esports team will launch in fall of 2020 and thanks to a partnership with the City of South Bend, the Bethel team will use a LAN café and have access to a 600-seat esports arena at the Century Center.

According to the university, the Century Center’s Bendix Theatre is undergoing a $2 million renovation to create an esports space. It will be renamed Bendix Arena.

Bethel’s Associate Athletic Director Christopher Hess says the university has a lot of gamers and he hopes the opportunity will allow the students to “enjoy the benefits of all that comes with being a part of a team.”

The team will have regular practice times and travel to competitions.

According to the school, the team will not play games with “gratuitous violence or the objectification of women.”

The team will initially compete in games including League of Legends and Overwatch.

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