Idaho State University Unveils state-of-the-art Esports Arena
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Since 2024, Idaho State University’s Esports has grown from three to five varsity teams and competed and placed on the national stage, all while practicing in the basement of the Student Union Building in a confined, dark space. Today, the Esports program held a grand opening for their new Esports Arena, a well-deserved upgrade for the committed athletes.
The new arena is located next to the Chick-Fil-A on the first floor of the Student Union Building. It features over 30 computer setups and a TV station with an Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 available. New to the upgraded space, students at ISU can come to “Open Play” hours, where non-Esports athletes can try the state-of-the-art gaming systems beginning in 2027.
Direct Communications Esports Arena at ISU, Sept. 29
The new space is thanks to a generous grant of $520,000 from Direct Communications, a longtime partner with ISU who also provided the enhancements to Direct Communications Field at Miller Ranch Stadium for the Lady Bengals Softball team in 2025.
“It’s amazing for them to have this brand new space because these athletes are really good at their games, they’re dedicated,” said broadcasting coordinator Daniel Sheldon. “Now we get to provide them access to a team environment and watching them blossom under that as they gain new friends and learn new skills has been phenomenal.”
The inagural teams in 2024 played Overwatch, Rocket League and Valorant. Today’s program includes teams in Super Smash Bros and Call of Duty. The new space reflects the variety of games and athletes in Esports at ISU, as well as their need for more computers.
Visitors and students file into the new Esports arena for the grand opening, Sept. 29
The athletes are already feeling the difference in shifting to their new space, where it’s easier to collaborate and practice as a team.
“The brand new computers are really good, we have better monitors now and better headphones,” said Elliott Fleener, ISU Esports Athlete. “Pretty much everything is better compared to what we used to have and it’s so much more space.”
The captain of the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Esports Team, Abir Atar, said the elite nature of the arena has led to better connection and play between his team.
“We used to really only be able to have two guys practicing at one time, maybe four if they were separated, but now we have all of us right here,” Atar said. “We can go back and review the footage of what happened two minutes ago, it’s provided a noticeable improvement it’s awesome.”
Another exciting aspect of the new arena is the broadcasting ability out of the facility. With live announcers Scooter McLane and Triston Van Wyk giving play-by-play and commentary, Sheldon says ISU is now competing with some of the biggest Esports broadcasts in the country.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say [we have] one of the best broadcasts for Esports within the northwest at the very least, we’re now just below if not neck and neck with Boise State who has been doing this for years,” Sheldon said. “The fact we’re even competing on that level is incredible and I think we’re going to elevate every product we’ll have with this space.”
Esports Announcers Scooter McLane and Triston Van Wyk live at the grand opening of the new Esports Arena, Sept. 29
The Direct Communications Esports Arena is another attraction the university has to bring more interested students to the Pocatello campus.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get more students interested and engaged and show them how cool, fun and exciting Esports can be,” Sheldon said.
He added live games are Monday-Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and visitors are welcome to use the chairs in the new space to watch the games and listen to the announcers in real time. Looking towards the Spring semester, Sheldon said the program would love to allow students of all disciplines inside the arena to try the systems.
“We’re going to continue expanding access from there. The goal is to have people come in and use our computers during open play hours,” he said. For now, the computers and high-tech gaming systems remain a priveledge for the Esports athletes, as they head into a busy season of games and tournament preparation.
Head Coach Charles Johnston said the team is committed to defending their back-to-back Big Sky Championship trophy in Rocket League. In the first two years of the Esports program at ISU, the Rocket League team pulled off a first-place win. In the spring, the Overwatch and Super Smash Bros teams both placed 3rd in the Big Sky Championship Tournament.
“We want to be a nationally recognized program,” Johnston said. “For competition, we want people to see our team name and fear that.”
Johnston added the most improvement is yet to come, as the teams adjust and expand in their new environment.
“Unfortunately, Esports sometimes means a team is at a disadvantage if they worse equipment, so this brand new equipment makes us more competitive,” Johnston said. “Now we have an advantage with the best internet thanks to Direct Communications not to mention the best quality computers.”
The head coach added the athletes are feeling more motivated to grow in their games since they get to walk into the beautiful new arena everyday. The space has “excelerated our ability to do our best and continue working hard.”
Johnston encourages people to come watch the Esports teams in action in person at the new arena, squashing the stigma around video game sports being inferior to other sports. One match in the new arena and spectators are treated to fierce competition, exciting plays and a group of dedicated athletes working together towards a common goal: win.
To stream Idaho State University Esports Games, visit twitch.tv/idahostateesports. For more information, visit Idaho State Esports on Instagram or their website isu.edu/esports.
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