Over 450 million people will view an eSports event in 2019, and while many of those people will watch online, design firm HOK, and SAP, a software company, have released a new report exploring the future of the eSports venue, one that blends online connectivity with a physical space.
“Purpose-built venues have historically had a significant impact in establishing a sport in a culture and community,” said Nuno Guerreiro, architect at HOK and co-author of the report, in a release. “Because of the length of these events and technological requirements, e-sports have a unique audience seeking more connected, hands-on experiences. Architects and designers have an opportunity to rethink every aspect of the traditional sports and entertainment environment—from a building’s location and form down to the seat.”
See Also: Gamers paradise: The rise of eSports arenas
The report touches on some key design features such as:
— A non-traditional seating bowl
— An immersive environment
— Reimagined geometries and spatial organization
— More intimacy
— A blending of technology with the built environment
— Hospitality-driven experiences
The blending of technology with the built environment is especially important, as eSports viewers tend to be younger, tech-savvy individuals who are not willing to completely forgo the digital experience eSports offers to physically attend an event. Seats that have connectivity for VR headsets and the ability for a digital avatar to sit within the physical bowl of an arena are just some features the design firm is exploring
For the full report, click here.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 25, 2015
Italian soccer stadium designed to look like translucent waves
Architect Massimo Guidotti created a sinuous design for the stadium, which can support up to 16,000 seats.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 21, 2015
Tokyo Olympic Stadium saga ends for Zaha Hadid
After resubmitting a bid, the firm will not design the main venue for the 2020 Olympics after all.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Sep 2, 2015
Proposed stadium for NFL's St. Louis Rams offers more than just football
The stadium's newest features have been unveiled by HOK, which could give the Rams one of the most inventive homes in the league—if it gets built.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 24, 2015
Green Bay Packers to start construction on a business district near Lambeau Field this fall
Flush with cash, the NFL team is kicking in about half of the $130 million for the 20-acre project’s first phase.
Industrial Facilities | Aug 18, 2015
BIG crowdfunds steam ring prototype for Amager Bakke power plant project
The unusual power plant/ski slope project in Copenhagen will feature a smokestack that will release a ring-shaped puff for every ton of CO2 emitted.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Aug 5, 2015
The world’s longest ski slope will be built in one of the world’s hottest cities
The words “skiing” and “desert” aren’t often used in the same sentence. But that’s changing in Dubai, which appears to be on a mission to have the “biggest” of everything.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 31, 2015
Zaha Hadid responds to Tokyo Olympic Stadium controversy
“Our warning was not heeded that selecting contractors too early in a heated construction market and without sufficient competition would lead to an overly high estimate of the cost of construction,” said Zaha Hadid in a statement.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 29, 2015
Milwaukee Bucks arena deal approved by Wisconsin state assembly
Created by Milwaukee firm Eppstein Uhen Architects and global firm Populous, the venue will be built in downtown Milwaukee. Its design draws inspiration from both Lake Michigan, which borders Milwaukee, and from aspects of basketball, like high-arcing free throws.
University Buildings | Jul 28, 2015
OMA designs terraced sports center for UK's Brighton College
Designs for what will be the biggest construction project in the school’s 170-year history feature a rectangular building at the edge of the school’s playing field. A running track is planned for the building’s roof, while sports facilities will be kept underneath.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 23, 2015
McKinney, Texas, dives into huge pool-and-fitness center project
Money magazine is the latest publication to rank McKinney, Texas, as the best place to live in the U.S. The city is trying to capitalize its newfound status to attract more residents and businesses, with amenities like this new recreation center.
