Collegiate Call of Duty organiser College CoD (CCL) has partnered with Belong Gaming Arenas, a subsidiary of gaming and technology company Vindex, to host its first live LAN Playoffs event to crown a 2022 National Champion.
The event will take place in Columbus, Ohio at Belong’s gaming arena on June 11th-12th.
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Eight collegiate Call of Duty teams will compete in the arena, which will also be played in front of an audience of 100 spectators. Passes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for $25 each day.
Wim Stocks, SVP of Partnerships & Commercial, Belong Gaming Arenas, commented: “Collegiate competition is a fast-growing segment and an important area for Belong Gaming Arenas as we look to bring elite esports experiences to local neighbourhoods across the country.
“We’re thrilled to support the CCL 2022 National Championship and play a role in the continued growth of collegiate esports.”
Last year, Belong Gaming Arenas started rolling out gaming centres across the US. As of this writing, Belong has locations in Chicago, Nashville, Dallas and Houston, with a new centre arriving in Philadelphia soon. Recently, the company’s Columbus location hosted the Call of Duty League Pro-Am Classic in May.
In October 2021, esports social platform eFuse acquired both College CoD (CCL) and the College Carball Association (CCA).
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Matthew Benson, Co-Founder and CEO of eFuse, added: “The top collegiate players deserve a best-in-class LAN experience and by teaming up with Belong Gaming Arenas, we know this event will deliver exactly that.
“Ohio’s roots in the Call of Duty scene run deep, so we can’t wait to welcome the College CoD League to Columbus for this marquee LAN event.”
Esports Insider says: It’s great to see the CCL’s playoffs be played in front of an audience, with the event showcasing how developed collegiate esports has become. Since rolling out its US expansion last year, Belong’s arenas have started to be utilised more and more for LAN events, something that is sure to benefit esports tournaments from a spectacle standpoint.