1. HOME
  2.  | 
  3. Industry
  4.  | 
  5. Education
  6.  | GCI Commits $500,000 to Support UAF’s New Alaska Esports Center

GCI Commits $500,000 to Support UAF’s New Alaska Esports Center

Apr 4, 2021 | Education, Telecom & Tech

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.

 

Current Issue

Alaska Business October 2024 Cover

October 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.

Alaska Business Magazine October 2024
In This Issue
2024 Alaska Business Top 49ers
October 2024
Congratulations to this year's Top 49ers! Earning a spot in this prestigious group has never been easy, and the threshold for making the list year is higher than ever, with Everts Air Cargo | Everts Air Alaska reporting $74.9 million in gross revenue to close the ranks. At the top of the ranks, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation also set a new record, reporting $5.5 billion in gross revenue.
Share This