GCI Commits $500,000 to Support UAF’s New Alaska Esports Center
From left, Emily Moretz, Victoria Pennington, and Kyle Agustines play on one of the console gaming stations in the Alaska Esports Center in the UAF Wood Center.
JR Ancheta | UAF
GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks are partnering to bring collegiate Esports to the next level. Through a 10-year, $500,000 commitment by GCI, UAF students at the new Alaska Esports Center will have access to lightning-fast 1 GIG internet speeds as they navigate the competitive landscape of games like Overwatch and League of Legends.
The Alaska Esports Center is the first of its kind in Alaska. It is housed in the UAF Wood Center and is managed by the UAF Center for Student Engagement. There, students will find a place to play, practice and analyze electronic games, build a community, and enhance their academic experiences. The center will host UAF’s soon-to-be-established Esports team, which will join 170-plus collegiate squads nationwide.
“As the leading Esports internet provider in Alaska, we leapt at the chance to connect the northernmost Esports facility in North America and power UAF’s Esports program,” says GCI Chief Marketing Officer Kate Slyker.
“GCI’s low latency, 1 GIG internet is the ideal platform for the fast-paced world of competitive gaming and our long-term partnership with UAF will help boost Alaska’s collegiate Esports athletes to the next level. Alaska is the First Frontier!”
The Alaska Esports Center is open to all UAF students and offers both competitive and casual gaming options. In addition to speedy internet, the center features consoles, furnishings and spaces designed for both team and individual gaming, and has a dedicated arena for intercollegiate teams to practice and compete. Visit the UAF esports Facebook page for more information about Esports at UAF.
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May 2024
The Alaska Esports shed is where teams will engaged in esports competitions.
JR Ancheta | UAF
“Esports have been a staple among UAF students for years and interest has only continued to grow,” says Keith Champagne, vice chancellor for student affairs at UAF.
“This partnership—UAF student affairs, UAF School of Management and GCI—offers incredible potential to enhance and diversify the student experience at UAF and complement ongoing development of academic offerings centered around the burgeoning business of Esports.”
This commitment by GCI is the largest Esports sponsorship in Alaska. GCI also sponsors the Alaska School Activities Association Esports program and played a key role in connecting the Providence Alaska Foundation’s Extra Life event, a long-running annual 24-hour gaming marathon fundraiser benefiting the Alaska Children’s Miracle Network.
Making History
The track of oil and gas development in Alaska shows the footprints of bold companies and hard-working individuals who shaped the industry in the past and continue to innovate today. The May 2024 issue of Alaska Business explores that history while looking forward to new product development, the energy transition for the fishing fleet, and the ethics of AI tools in business.