There is no slowing down the growth of esports in college right now and the University of Florida has just received $3million to build a brand new arena.
The esports arena will begin construction this summer in Gainesville, Florida, with the venue named ‘Flight Deck’ expected to be ready to host events from the 2026 season.
After receiving the grant, UNF President Moez Limayem said: “We are so appreciative of the support from Mayor Deegan and the City Council as UNF Esports is poised to transform Jacksonville into a premier centre for digital innovation and gaming.
“This is a significant milestone for our University and the entire community. We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to enhance innovative technology in our region.”
The university plans to include over 40 state of the art PC’s built into the arena with a feature stage that will be used for any live events in Florida.
Esports continues to boom in College’s across the nation
The University of Florida recognises the growth within the world of esports in college, as the community continues become more valuable during a busy 2025.
“The esports industry, projected to grow to over $6.3 billion by 2030, goes far beyond gaming and will have a direct impact on the future of Jacksonville’s workforce.” The university stated.
“The Flight Deck aligns with UNF’s strategy to grow enrolment rapidly to serve the workforce needs of Jacksonville. UNF graduates have a direct impact on the state economy, with 80% of UNF grads staying in Florida and 70% staying in Northeast Florida.”
Esports continues to take the college world by storm and the $3million grant to the UNF wasn’t the first big-money investment of the year.
While it wasn’t as much, the University of Suffolk also received a grant from its council with $2.17 million handed over to build a similar arena to the one in Florida.
