KALAMAZOO, MI -- Behind the old velvet curtain of the Little Theatre on Western Michigan University's historic East Campus now stands state-of-the-art computers and display screens for college students competing in virtual worlds.

The Western Michigan University Esports@WMU club arena was put on display Friday, Oct. 5, inside of the Little Theatre.

Last year, President Edward Montgomery announced the Transformational Initiative Fund would help create two programs to keep students engaged, help build community and, ultimately, get students to graduation.

Esports@WMU, the university's competitive video gaming program, became a reality with a $500,000 grant from the Transformational Initiative Fund and some renovations of the Little Theatre.

What was once a stage -- most often rented by community theater groups -- is now a virtual battlefield where WMU students will challenge other college teams in games like "Fortnite" and "Overwatch."

On the stage are 36 gaming machines with high-resolution monitors, headsets, special keyboards and mice and gaming chairs. Twelve of those machines are at the front of the stage and will be used in competitions.

Two large projection screens allow an 190-person audience to follow gameplay.

Forming an esports team, it seems, is a similar process to more traditional sports, including the selection of coaches, starting players and try-outs.

The team of 16 has six starters, subs and other players considered to be junior varsity, WMU senior and club player Nate Falzon said.

Team practices include watching film to learn strategy, Falzon said.

Falzon, who played football and basketball in high school, said part of what attracted him to esports was the chance to be on a team in college.

"It's fun being part of a team again," he said. "I really like the competitive aspect of it. Again, I've been in a lot of sports teams so it kind of has the same feel, but I also love playing video games, so it's a cool combination."

Coach and manager Carl Delosangelos said life skills typically taught in traditional sports apply to esports as well, including learning to communicate with others and how to be a team player.

The team most recently played Michigan State University, without ever leaving campus, but unfortunately lost, Delosangelos said. The hope is to bring other university teams to the arena to play in the virtual world from the same stage.

A year after Montgomery announced the new funding aimed at helping keep students on campus, the university president said it is "satisfying" to see the facility complete.

"It's very satisfying to see what a wonderful facility it is," Montgomery said. "The most satisfying thing is seeing the expression on the students' faces and the excitement they have to be able to be participate in this type of facility."

The university is exploring the possibility of opening up the esports arena to additional WMU students as well as area high school teams and community groups, according to a press release.

Hundreds of students have expressed interest in the sport, Montgomery said, including high school students considering attending WMU for the opportunity to participate.

"This is part of how we build community, how we get students to engage with each other," he said.