Esports Growth

by Steven Blackiston

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas in recent years has seen its esports program take off.

This growth goes hand in hand with the worldwide boom in esport popularity.

UARK Esports’s Sam Kirby agrees the growth has been surprising.

“We’ve seen quite a few new people in our Discord and at our meetings,” Kirby said. “We’re hardly into the semester, but we’re already seeing a lot of people join.”

The university is planning to create a new home for esports on campus. The new space will feature nearly 50 computers, live streaming capabilities and a trophy case.