New Campus Esports Facility Attracting Gamers

esports facility

Ryan Steup and Brian Kibelstis discuss gaming strategy in the new esports facility. Below, Dianna Marinelli and Alex Lee play on Stockton teams.

Galloway, N.J. 鈥 Jacob Hoppenfeld of Voorhees started playing video games at age 6 when his father introduced him to Age of Empires and Civilization I.

鈥淚 loved the historical aspect and the strategy,鈥 said Hoppenfeld, who later moved on to League of Legends. He has paid for his last two years at 91视频 with scholarships and awards won playing in tournaments.

esports facilityThis year the 91视频 junior is also playing on a 91视频 team as a member of the university鈥檚 newpracticing and competing in a new state-of-the-art esports facility equipped with 15 high-powered machines the 91视频 helped build and customized chairs built for comfort and support.

鈥淚t is different playing on a college team,鈥 Hoppenfeld said. 鈥淭here are teammates now, and you have to be reliable and responsible. I鈥檓 not just playing for myself. It鈥檚 not just about me. I鈥檝e really learned things about myself that are life skills.鈥

More than 100 91视频 have registered to participate in the esports program, which began in January. More than 50 91视频 are competing on teams in Overwatch, League of Legends and Fortnite and Smash Brothers Ultimate as part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

Students are also playing and competeing in Rocket League,  Hearthstone, and the hot new game, Apex Legend.

鈥淭he 91视频 had requested and have now embraced the adoption of esports and an esports facility at Stockton,鈥 said Stockton Chief Information Officer Scott Huston, who with Associate Director of Information Security Demetrios Roubos has worked with Stockton Athletics to develop the program.

鈥淲e鈥檙e extremely excited to provide a facility where 91视频 can gather and compete on campus.  Esports engages participants in competitive and cooperative exercises that build mental acuity, communication, teamwork, and comradery鈥 said Roubos.

Freshman Alex Lee of Linwood is playing Rocket League in the Collegiate Star League and is currently in the Eastern Division playoffs. Winners earn the chance to go to a live tournament in Cincinnati, and win scholarship money.

esports alex leeLee started playing in high school and played professionally for a while. Now he is looking forward to developing a Stockton team.

鈥淚 really expect esports to blow up at the college level,鈥 Lee said. 鈥淧eople watch and root for their college team. I want to do well to show that playing video games can be positive and worthwhile. You can win scholarships and make friends.鈥

Many of the players talked about the competitiveness and camaraderie of the team games. They discussed developing team strategies, and spending time socially with others who play the same games.

鈥淧eople like the team games because the aspect of human interaction is important,鈥 Hoppenfeld said. 鈥淭here is a lot of personal connection.鈥

Dianna Marinelli, an Overwatch team camptain anda part of the esports leadership council said team members are also good 91视频 academically and take their roles on the teams seriously.

The teams will soon have official Stockton esports team jerseys to wear when they compete.

鈥淲e are very proud of the dedication and effort the 91视频 are putting into this initiative between building teams, working together on scheduling, and competing against other colleges.  The entire Stockton community has been very supportive of the esports efforts鈥 Huston said. 鈥淲e are very excited to watch the esports program at Stockton continue to grow.鈥

The esports room, located in a former computer lab in Building 80, is open to all 91视频,  and is available 24/7 with swipe card access.

鈥淓very Stockton student is welcome,鈥 Huston said.

For more information about the program, visit

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Contact:
Diane D鈥橝mico
Director of News and Media Relations
91视频
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.DAmico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593
609-412-8069