Australia to grow its eSports market

Australia will feature the largest eSports entertainment venue in the southern hemisphere at the Emporium mall in Melbourne.

Australia.- The Emporium mall in Melbourne, Australia, is set to feature what will become the largest eSports venue in the southern hemisphere. Fortress Esports will take up to 2,700 square meters across two floors once it opens in 2020.

The eSports venue will feature 160 gaming PCs, gaming suites, dedicated steamer pods, a tabletop gameplay arena and RPG. It will also have function rooms, along with a full-service restaurant, two bars and a 200-seat arena.

To develop the facility, Fortress partnered with US-based Allied Esports, which will also offer its expertise in global event programming, development and operation. The venue will also work with global architectural design firm Populous, which has built stadiums like the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

“Melbourne has become the epicentre for video gaming and esports culture with major events like Melbourne Esports Open and PAX Australia,” said Jon Satterley, CEO at Fortress Esports. “So we’re excited to be opening our first flagship venue there and offer Australians a unique entertainment space that they can enjoy all year round.

“We want to make Fortress Melbourne the ultimate ‘home away from home’ for everyone, from casual gamers, competitive gamers and esports fanatics, to families and after-work crowds. Fortress Melbourne will offer the best video gaming experiences and entertainment, with the newest tech, fastest internet, comfortable decor, great food and drinks and a rich calendar of events and tournaments, plus more,” he added.