Ball State University has become an official partner of The Esports Combine™, the world’s premier collegiate recruiting event for esports athletes. The partnership further pushes Indiana as the hub for esports, esports development, and esports academia.
Through the partnership, Ball State University will integrate students of its Esports Production concentration into The Esports Combine and promote their participation. The university’s Esports Production concentration, as part of the Telecommunications Production concentration, delivers hands-on instruction for students to develop their skills in the field of esports media. Students will learn the history of esports, video production, streaming, and live event broadcasting.
Ball State began its varsity esports program as part of its College of Communication, Information, and Media in January 2021, becoming a founding member of the Esports Collegiate Conference.
The University opened its state-of-the-art Esports Center in April of 2021. This multi-use facility houses the esports program and serves as a cutting-edge classroom.
“We are ecstatic to work with Harena Data and Indiana Sports Corp as an official partner of The Esports Combine™,” said Dr. Paaige Turner, dean of Ball State’s College of Communication, Information, and Media. “At Ball State, our mission is to provide our students with innovative opportunities to learn and to make connections with their peers and within the community. Our new Esports program, under the direction of Dan Marino, is doing just that by giving students skills and experiences they can use both in class and out. This combine will be a wonderful showcase for our state, as well as our University and its talented students.”
“We believe Indiana will be to esports what Silicon Valley is to technology. By pulling together all the leaders in this space and bringing them to one event like the combine, we can make this a reality,” said Bill Dever, Chief Strategy Officer at Harena Data. “Ball State’s commitment to push Indiana’s presence in esports is exactly the reason we’re working with this fine establishment.”
The Esports Combine™, which returns this year from October 15 through 17, is organized by Indiana Esports Development LLC., a formation between Harena Data and Indiana Sports Corp. It’s a showcase where esports candidates from across the world can demonstrate their skills in front of the nation’s top recruiters and earn incredible college scholarships for esports. The event is virtual and will be live streamed by Super League Gaming.
This year’s combine expects 10,000 gamers and 200 colleges and universities to participate. Hundreds of the largest esports scholarships are up for grabs and gamers will be able to tap into the country’s best scholarship opportunities. To date, more than 500 student athletes playing on Harena’s GYO Score platform have received college scholarships, more than all other organizations combined. The Combine will include educational roundtables, leading industry professionals speaking on panels, and partnerships with the country’s biggest universities to get players recruited.
The Esports Combine™ runs October 15 through 17, 2021. Gamers can sign up for the Combine here.