ESL hopes to use Leicester Haymarket Theatre as an esports arena if £3m refit goes ahead

haymarket theatre esports v 1

ESL UK is in talks with a council-backed consortium that hopes to redevelop the Leicester Haymarket Theatre.
ESL wants to use the theatre as an 800-seater esports arena if a £3m revamp project gets the all-clear, the Leicester Mercury reports.
Organisers say the theatre could host one esports event a month ‘depending on demand’.
Plans to reopen the theatre as an arts and music venue were originally announced last summer, with Leicester Mayor Peter Soulsby saying the project will need £2.2m. That has since been increased to £3m.
ESL UK is based in Leicester, and hosts events from its ESL Studio 1 facility. It has used the Curve Theatre for some events in the past, such as the Season 2 ESL UK Premiership League of Legends finals.
 

“We have a venue here which we think would be ideal for esports events. We could create a great atmosphere.”
Chris Knight, Haymarket Consortium

 
The theatre was originally opened in 1974, but closed in 2007, after operators The Leicester Theatre Trust vacated in favour of the newer Curve Theatre. The Haymarket has cost the council £1.5m since closing.
Under the new proposals, it could reopen in spring this year.
Consortium member Chris Knight told the Leicester Mercury: “We have a venue here which we think would be ideal for esports events. We could create a great atmosphere.”
Chris also spoke about training people up to work at the theatre and in esports.
Another member Jed Spittle, added: “To begin with we will be mainly a music venue, but e-gaming is another string to our bow.”
The Leicester Mercury wrote a full-page report on the story, as spotted by Esports News UK’s Cameron Peberdy:

leicester-mercury-esports-s

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