New program at Canisius College creates competitive eSports program

It's a billion dollar industry many parents may think is a waste of time, but now Canisius College is celebrating the interests of their students with a new eSports lab.

The eSports industry is valued at 1.65 billion dollars, so Canisius College is embracing this trend with a state-of-the-art gaming lab.

Competitive teams at Canisius play Fortnite, Overwatch, Warcraft, FIFA and League of Legends. Students play against teams all across the country in the MAAC conference. The school's Fortnite team is currently ranked second out of 8 teams in the Northeast. 

"It's great to know that you can think outside of the box and still be accepted here," says Caleb Long, a sophomore at Canisius and a member of the eSports Overwatch team.

Interest in the team has blossomed, but getting in is just as competitive as any other club sport like soccer or baseball. "They have to try out, I mandate they have a three hour practice outside of competition, also that amount of time on their own time. Students who are playing are probably putting 12 to 15 hours a week into this," says Kiernan Ensor, the Canisius College Coordinator of eSports. 

This adaptation into a growing industry is truly a draw for prospective students. "We're all really supportive of this initiative. This is just one way that students can find their right fit. If this interests them, they can find that piece of comfort here and learn about the other ways we try and help them find a place," says Justin Rogers with admissions.

An open house is scheduled on Sunday, October 28th at 9 a.m. You can register here.

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