WINTER PARK, Fla. – Full Sail University is already home to the largest college-level esports arena in the country — and on Tuesday, it expanded its space with the opening of Armada HQ.
The HQ name stems from the school’s esports team and the nearly 2,800 square-foot expansion added 45 gaming pc’s, a soundproofed broadcast room and gaming lounge to the school.
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Sari Kitelyn, Full Sail’s Director of Esports, said the space was needed as there is a growing and evolving trend in the esports scene — with a shift towards gamers broadcasting online.
“A real pivotal moment that has happened and an evolution that has happened is the amplification of online broadcasting,” Kitelyn said. “So online tournaments, those online experiences in addition to those in-person ones, and what our students have really been doing a lot more and a lot of these opportunities is producing those broadcasts.”
Bennett Newsome, Director of Esports Growth and Development at Full Sail, also said the school not only wants the students to learn about the competitive side of esports, but also to learn production and content creation, which the new space gives them room to do so.
“This is something that we have been working on for quite some time. We’ve always had a practice facility on campus,” Newsome said. “But just like the evolution of all things' esports here at Full Sail, it’s continued to grow.”
Meanwhile, a University of Michigan report revealed that there are some big bucks when it comes to gaming. It stated that in 2022, the esports industry was worth nearly $240 billion, and it was expected to grow.
Full Sail Graduate, Brittany MacCleod is cashing in on this. MacCleod is a tournament organizer, a caster and a contract production assistant, she said.
To add on, MacCleod said the addition to the school will be great as it will be a space for students to build their confidence and skills — and she is excited about being able to use Armanda HQ as well.
“It’s because of the confidence I gained in Armada and the people that I thrived around, that I have the confidence to, and the success that I found today,” MacCleod said. “(...) So being able to come back and be a mentor, being able to be somebody that the students can lean on even now as a grad, it’s something that I never in a million years imagined I would have the opportunity to do.”
All in all, ever since The Fortress opened, it has hosted tons of different competitions. However, recently the school collaborated with Orlando’s EA Sports. It hosted the Madden NFL 25 Championship last fall, showcasing how ‘The City Beautiful is evolving into the city of esports.’
Kitley told News 6 the investment into Armada HQ will bring more video game publishers and other large-scale clients to Central Florida, which will then provide future students with more experience.
“Orlando is really becoming a hub for esports production here. If you look at the entirety of the United States, a lot of work in esports is coming and what they’re looking at is right here in Central Florida,” Kitley said.