Indianapolis-based Butler University has announced that North American esports organisation Beastcoast has become the latest tenant of its ‘Esports Park’.
Beastcoast players and staff will use Butler University’s Esports Park facilities for training. According to a release, Beastcoast will also connect with the collegiate esports scene in the Greater Midwest region.
The Esports Park at Butler University is a brand new facility designed for students and companies to network, play and develop. Revealed in 2022, the facility’s first tenant is Challonge, a Logitech-owned tournament organisation platform. Beastcoast is following suit by moving its staff and players on campus.
The Esports organisation has raised $2.5m in 2021, as a part of a pre-seed round, and has teams in Dota 2, Rainbow Six, Super Smash Bros, Street Fighter, Pokemon and Teamfight Tactics. The organisation recently secured a spot at The International 2022 in Dota 2, one of the organisation’s biggest competitive successes so far.
Butler University and Beastcoast first connected at the Techstars Sports Accelerator, a programme designed for sports tech companies. Beastcoast was the first esports company to receive Techstars funding back in 2020.
Butler University’s Director of Esports and Gaming, Eric Kammeyer, said that the partnership has been in the works since then and added that there is a large benefit to having a dedicated esports organisation on campus. One example noted was that the University can reach out to Beastcoast for help with classes and esports programme developments.
Grant Zinn, Beastcoast co-Founder and CEO, commented: “I’ve been impressed by Butler University’s significant investment in esports, particularly the emphasis they’ve placed on growing collegiate esports.
“It reflects Beastcoast’s own community-focused values, including our deep connection with the grassroots esports scene. Esports Park is a fantastic facility, and I’m proud that Beastcoast is here in Indianapolis as one of the inaugural partners. “
