AusLeisure

Fortress Esports has announced plans to develop what it says will be largest video gaming and esports entertainment venue in the Southern Hemisphere.

Fortress Esports, co-founded by Jon Satterley - the former Chief Digital Officer for Village Roadshow - is planning to open ‘Fortress Melbourne’ in the heart of the city in early 2020.

Located at Emporium Melbourne, the venue will span more than 2,700 metre² across two floors and will include a 200-seat purpose-built esports arena.

It will feature more than 160 gaming PCs, console gaming suites, four dedicated streamer pods, and RPG and tabletop game play area along with a restaurant, two bars, and a professional esports boot camp room and training facilities.

Introducing the venue last week, Satterley stated “Melbourne has become the epicentre for video gaming and esports culture with major events like Melbourne Esports Open and PAX Australia, so we’re excited to be opening our first flagship venue in Melbourne and offer Australians a unique entertainment space that they can enjoy all year round.

“We want to make Fortress Melbourne the ultimate ‘home away from home’ for everyone, from casual gamers, competitive gamers and esports fanatics, to families and after-work crowds.

“Fortress Melbourne will offer the best video gaming experiences and entertainment, with the newest tech, fastest internet, comfortable decor, great food and drinks, and a rich calendar of events and tournaments, plus more.”

For the development, Fortress Esports Pty Ltd has partnered exclusively with US-based Allied Esports, one of the world’s leading network of esports venues and production facilities and operators of the famed HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas, USA to deliver the “world-class” esports experience and venue.

Allied Esports will be lending its expertise in global event programming, development and operation so Fortress will be a ready-to-go championship destination for tournaments.

Fortress Esports is also working with global architectural design firm Populous to transform the current basement and lower ground space, which will have a separate entry from Caledonian Lane, in Emporium Melbourne.

Images: Artist's impression of Fortress Melbourne (top) and an esports arena concept from Populous (below). 

Related Articles

15th August 2019 - Gfinity Esports Australia to close

2nd August 2019 - Money In Esports Summit coming to Sydney

27th June 2019 - China esports market value to hit US$1.9 billion this year

31st May 2019 - New guide explores the future of esports venues

19th February 2019 - Telstra to explain rise of esports at SPORTELAsia convention

9th January 2019 - Esports media company LPL acquires Australian esports company CyberGamer 

16th November 2018 - New research shows increasing professionalism in eSports

4th October 2018 - Gfinity partners with Arup to design the world’s most advanced integrated eSports facility

5th September 2018 - Inaugural Melbourne Park eSports event attracts thousands

4th June 2018 - Melbourne and Olympic Park to host Australia’s largest eSports event

14th May 2018 - eSports executive says Australia can become world-class gaming nation

8th May 2018 - AFL to co-host eSports League of Legends event in Melbourne

5th February 2018 - eSports arenas to be launched in Hoyts cinemas

20th November 2017 - Australia’s first high performance eSports venue opens at the SCG

6th September 2017 - TEG Analytics and TEG Rewards shine light on growth in eSports

15th August 2017 - Melbourne City FC sign A-League’s first FIFA eSports player

7th July 2017 - Populous explains how technology will transform future stadium experiences

5th May 2017 - AFL looks to eSports to engage with new audiences

4th May 2017 - Most professional sports teams to soon have an eSports presence

28th April 2017 - Asian Games 2022 to feature eSports events

10th September 2015 - Alibaba Group launches dedicated sports venture

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.