An esports arena with 1,000 seating capacity will open this fall in Arlington, Texas, the City or Arlington announced Wednesday. The venue, called Esports Stadium Arlington, is being done in conjunction with Esports Venues, LLC.


According to the press release, the 100,000 square-foot building is scheduled to open this fall, though no date was given. The city's proposed agreement with Esports Venues includes a 10-year lease with an option for a 10-year renewal. According to a news release, "Arlington’s renovation and equipment investments would be repaid through annual lease payments, event revenue, stadium naming rights revenue and other opportunities associated with catering to the esports industry."


The most notable part of the news release is that NGAGE Esports is set to manage the stadium. NGAGE Esports, as noted at the bottom of the release, works directly with OpTic Gaming and its Overwatch League franchise, the Houston Outlaws. Putting two and two together, it sounds like this stadium is set to become the future home of the Outlaws. 


Despite the help from NGAGE, it's also possible the arena could be used for either OpTic Gaming in general (which is moving its headquarters to Dallas) or even the Dallas Fuel, which is much closer to Arlington than Houston.


“Being on the forefront of new ideas and setting trends is in our DNA and part of who we are as The American Dream City,” Mayor Jeff Williams said during a news conference Wednesday at the Arlington Convention Center. 


“Esports Stadium Arlington will further cement our city’s status as a national and international tourist destination. Players and fans will come here for the tournaments and they’ll stay even longer to experience everything Arlington has to offer.”


Overwatch League launched Season 1 with every team playing at Blizzard's Esports Arena in Burbank, Calif. But the plan was for teams to eventually play in their geo-located cities. Although nothing was confirmed, it's possible this arena could be the first domino to fall in that respect.

Photo courtesy of NGAGE Esports