Comcast has announced plans to build the first dedicated gaming arena. The Fusion Arena will seat 3500 and have 2000 square feet of LED displays.Comcast corporation is betting big time on esports. The cable company everyone loves to hate will spend $50 million to build the first dedicated area for competitive gaming: Fusion Arena. This arena will play host to the local professional esports team, Philadelphia fusion, that is owned by Comcast Spectacor.According to news reports , the new venue will seat 3500 people and contain over 2000 ft.² of LED screens. Construction is expected to begin this summer with a scheduled opening of January 2021. Bloomberg.com reports that the facility will include club seats that have USB ports featuring high-speed Internet.said Dave Scott, chief executive of Comcast Spectacor.Comcast's interest in esports is underlined by company's willingness to spend $20 million on the franchise fee to be a part of the Overwatch League. The company is also forging partnerships to field teams in other popular esports games including Fortnite and League of Legends.If Comcast is correct, this facility will not merely be the first of its kind in the US, it will be the first of its kind in the "Western Hemisphere." It will be built in the same sports complex in South Philadelphia that currently contains Lincoln financial Field, where the Eagles play, the Wells Fargo Center where the Philadelphia Sixers and Flyers play, and Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Phillies play. The building will also house training facilities.As a Philadelphian, one of the most exciting prospects to come of this is the possibility that esports championship competitions will be held in Philadelphia, instantly putting the city on the map when it comes to the world of gaming.On the technical side, the facility will be interesting, given the technology needed to even have a live esports event. The good news is I live in South Philly so I intend to follow this project to its completion, and cover the impact of esports as it evolves. One thing is for sure, gaming is no longer about awkward kids stuck in a basement. With esports, there's money to be made and fame to be had. And soon, the aspiring champions will have a gaming arena in which to do battle.