The city’s first dedicated youth Esports lounge is opening up at the Burnside Agriplex.
The ENorth Media NextStrat Esports Lounge, at the former bingo hall upstairs, will offer professional Esports equipment, competitive coaching programs and organized tournament opportunities inspiring the next generation of esports players and industry professionals.
A competition via video games, Esports are described as ‘non-traditional’ sports, played between individuals or teams.
Stratford mayor Martin Ritsma said Esports have really taken off to the point where the International Olympic Committee created an ESports Games set for 2027.
Ritsma said it also offers a safe space for youth to spend time with their friends, and meet new people in an adult-supervised environment.
It’s partly funded by the federal government’s Canada’s Building Safer Communities Fund, as part of an effort to support crime prevention programs in Stratford.
A grand opening is Tuesday at the lounge, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. It’s open to everyone and will include Esports professionals.
