The $30 million, 108,000-square-foot virtual video gaming arena, located at 2601 S. Wabash Ave in Bronzeville, can host more than 1,000 guests.
Last week, the Chicago City Council approved the plans for hospitality management company SMASHotels (Smash Interactive) to build “Surge,” an Esports virtual reality stadium, which will also include the SMASHotels’ corporate headquarters at 2601 S. Wabash Ave in Bronzeville, located in the 2500-block of South Wabash Avenue at McCormick Square, according to a news release from ABC7.
The $30 million, 108,000-square-foot virtual video gaming arena can host more than 1,000 guests and will hold ticketed events during the majority of the evenings and on the weekends, but will be available to public groups in search of virtual reality events.
The plans by SMASHotels were approved by the zoning committee Tuesday with big support from aldermen praising it as the "way of the future," according to a news release by Block Club Chicago. This comes as a pivotal time for Esports teams in Chicago following the Illinois High School Association's decision in 2018 that now recognizes video gaming as a legitimate sport.
Floor plans for the Esports stadium include four separate virtual reality rooms, a virtual reality climbing wall and a broadcast studio.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.