SOUTH BEND, Ind.- On Thursday at 11:45 a.m., the much-anticipated Bendix E-Sports Arena will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of construction.

The 6,000 square foot arena will feature:

• 36 PC gaming center

• Nintendo and Xbox gaming stations

• A 600-seat theater

“The importance of the $1 million investment into esports by the Hotel Motel Tax Board of St. Joseph County will quickly provide a return on investment in year one of our operation,” said Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director – Venues for the City of South Bend. “From providing a place to call home for our local gamers to creating a regional, if not national, destination for pros and fans alike, South Bend is innovating at an especially difficult time while investing in something exciting and transformative in our hospitality product offering.”

The arena is partnered with Bethel University and the South Bend Lions soccer club who will utilize the space for practice and competitions.

“Bethel is in, for the math and mission,” said Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, President of Bethel University. “Esports isn’t a fad, with 300 million gamers globally, 7 in 10 of which are in high school. Nor is it mindless, when half of college gamers are STEM majors, an average GPA near 3.5. So, we’re in, but differently -- on platforms without gratuitous violence or sexual innuendo and conducting team Bible studies which redeem an industry stereotyped for sloth and crassness.”

A second phase of construction is scheduled for late March to include other amenities such as:

• Show lighting

• A robust sound system

• New truss system

• Gaming pods

• Broadcast studio.

All the work is expected to wrap up in late April.

For more info on the Bendix Esports Arena, visit bendixarena.com.