Level Up, Lions! MSJ Officially debuts its state-of-the-art Esports arena.
CINCINNATI – Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) celebrated the grand opening of its new Esports arena on Monday with a campus open house, welcoming students, faculty, staff and community partners into a newly renovated space designed to support competitive gaming and digital learning.
Located in the Jean Patrice Harrington, S.C., Student Center, the arena represents a major milestone in the growth of the Mount’s Esports program, which launched in 2019 and has tripled in size over the last two years.
“This arena marks a defining moment for our students and for the future of Esports at the Mount,” said Chris Duvall, head coach of MSJ Esports. “It gives our team a dedicated home to train and compete, but just as importantly, it creates a space where students can connect and be part of a community.”
In photo: The Mount Community gathering around Esports ribbon-cutting grand opening with President H. James Williams, Ph.D., Head Esports Coach Chris Duvall, and MSJ Board of Trustees member and CEO of Game Day Communications, Jackie Reau.
The new arena is a multiuse facility that includes a 24-PC competition space for official matches and team training, along with the Harrington Digital Classroom, a 36-PC lab designed to support academic instruction in video production and digital coursework. The custom-built computers were designed by Coach Chris Duvall and the Center for IT Engagement (cITe) and assembled by MSJ students.
The expanded space will allow the Mount to significantly increase participation in Esports, with a goal of growing the team to 60–70 students in the coming years.The Esports program competes through national collegiate leagues including NACE and ECAC, facing schools of all sizes across the region. Because the program operates under MSJ Athletics rather than the NCAA structure, it also offers scholarship opportunities for student-athletes.
MSJ Trustees member Jackie Reau says the new Esports arena is “a game-changer,” in its design, hardware, enhancement to student life and building community. “From the competition arena with state-of-the-art gaming rigs to the digital classroom and student lounge, this space positions Mount St. Joseph University as a forward-thinking leader in collegiate Esports,” says Reau, who is also CEO of Game Day Communications and president of the Cincinnati Fear professional Esports team.
“As the founder of Cincinnati Fear and a proud trustee, I see this as a powerful tool for recruitment and retention, a space where students can learn, compete, and connect through the rapidly growing world of gaming. By investing in cutting-edge technology and an inclusive space for gamers of all skill levels, we’re showing prospective students, and their families that the Mount is serious about supporting the next generation of digital leaders.”
In Photo: MSJ Board of Trustees member and CEO of Game Day Communications, Jackie Reau cutting ribbon.
During the open house, attendees toured the facility, met student competitors and learned more about the program’s unique approach, including opportunities for high school students to participate through extended tryout experiences.
President H. James Williams, Ph.D. also attended the celebration, noting the arena’s role in supporting student success both inside and outside the classroom.
“This new Esports arena reflects the Mount’s commitment to meeting students where they are and investing in innovative spaces that support learning,” said Dr. Williams, president of Mount St. Joseph University. “We are proud to provide opportunities for students to compete, collaborate and thrive in a rapidly growing field.”
In Photo: Esports team in new arena space.
For more information about MSJ Esports, visit msj.edu/esports.
About the Mount
As a Catholic institution rooted in the values of the Sisters of Charity, Mount St. Joseph University excels at serving the common good. Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students at the Mount are inspired to think beyond the classroom and redraw the bounds of what’s possible for their futures. This is accomplished through individualized educational experiences, a safe, secure campus environment, and an all-in commitment from faculty and staff to inspire students to reach their highest potential. The Mount fosters life-long learners who serve, care, and contribute to the world beyond their front doors.