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RON BURKE REPORTS FROM BOCA RATON. RON: HERE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, THIS SPACE IN TRANSITION, WITH ITS TOOLS, WIRES, AND EXPOSED CEILINGS, DOESN’T LOOK LIKE MUCH NOW. BUT WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS IN SIX WEEKS, IT WILL BECOME ANIMATED IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. THE CEILING THEY’RE BREAKING THROUGH IS TO A NEW FRONTIER IN COLLEGE SPORTS. >> IT’S ACTUALLY GOING TO DRAW BOTH THE STUDENT POPULATION, WHETHER THEY’RE GOING TO LIVE IN THE RES HALLS, OR IF THEY’RE COMMUTING ONTO CAMPUS, INTO THE SPACE. RON: WHAT USED TO BE A CAMPUS CENTER DINING FACILITY WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE FIRST COMPETITIVE E-SPORTS GAMING CENTER AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN FLORIDA. >> WE WERE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THIS STUFF PUT IN FOR MAKE CABLING PERSPECTIVE, VIDEO, AUDIO. WE HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART SYSTEM GOING INTO THE PLACE AS WE SPEAK. RON: CAMPUS CENTER DIRECTOR MICHAEL COOPER SAYS THE HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT WILL FEATURE 40 TO 45 TOP OF THE LINE GAMING PC’S, AS WELL AS CONSOLES, AND WALL MONITORS FOR SPECTATORS TO FOLLOW THE ACTION. AND EACH FULL-SERVICE STATION WILLISHED WITH A COMFORTABLE GAMING CHAIR AND DESK THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE HAS BUILT A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM AS THE FIRST OFFICIAL E-SPORTS PROGRAM AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. FAU FINANCIAL ANALYST BRIAN DREWKE, HIMSELF A GAMER, SAW THE SUCCESS OTHER SCHOOLS WERE HAVING, PITCHED HIS ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT GETTING ON BOARD, AND THEY BOUGHT IN RIGHT AWAY. >> IT SAYS TO ME THAT IF YOU HAVE A VISION AND YOU GO FOR IT. RON: E-GAMING IS A CLUB SPORT AT FAU. IN TIME THEY HOPE TO COMPETE AT A HIGHER LEVEL, AND EVEN GENERATE SPONSORSHIPS AS THEY BUILD THE PROGRAM. FOR NOW, STUDENT GAMERS WHO LONG HAVE HAD TO PLAY WHEREVER THEY COULD FIND A SPOT, IN HALLWAYS OR EVEN UNDER STAIRWELLS, ARE HAPPY TO FINALLY HAVE A PLACE OF THEIR OWN. >> IT IS PRETTY COOL.

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At Florida Atlantic University, a space in transition, with tools, wires and exposed ceilings, doesn’t look like much now. But, when the school year starts in six weeks, it will become animated in every sense of the word. The ceiling they’re breaking through is to a new frontier in college sports.“It’s actually going to draw both the student population, whether they’re going to live in the (residence) halls, or if they’re commuting onto campus, into the space,” said campus center director Michael Cooper.What used to be a campus center dining facility will be transformed into the first competitive esports gaming center at a public university in Florida.“We’ve got a state-of-the-art system going in, as we speak,” Cooper said.The high-tech environment will feature 40 to 45 top-of-the-line gaming PCs, as well as consoles and wall monitors for spectators to follow the action. Each station will be furnished with a comfortable gaming chair and desk. Recently, Full Sail University in Winter Park unveiled The Fortress, an 11,000-square-foot esports gaming arena. The University of California Irvine has built a national championship team as the first official esports program at a public university.FAU financial analyst Brian Drewke, himself a gamer and the esports gaming club’s advisor, saw the success other schools were having. He made a pitch to his administrators about getting on board, and they bought in right away. “It says to me, if you have a vision and you go for it, you can make it happen,” said Drewke. The FAU esports gaming complex is part of a $23 million renovation to the student union. Next door is a 2,400-seat auditorium that will host tournaments, which will allow even nonplayers to be involved in the experience.In time, FAU officials hope to compete above the club level and generate sponsorships as they build the program.For now, student gamers who have had to play wherever they could find a spot, in hallways or under stairwells, finally have a place of their own.