TAMPA – The Fourth Annual USF Esports Summit and Tournament has been rescheduled to Jan. 27 due to Tropical Storm Nicole. The event will be held at the same location and with the same schedule.
The summit and tournament is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the competitive and business side of the $1 billion-dollar video gaming industry.
The summit has been rescheduled for Friday, Jan. 27 at the Muma College of Business. It is hosted by the college’s Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program.
The one-day summit gives participants a chance to connect with regional and global esports industry leaders. It will conclude with a live-action championship finale where the winner of the 2022 Battle for Florida tournament will be crowned. The power-packed program features a keynote speaker as well as prominent speakers in the esports industry.
This year’s theme is building community and some anticipated segments include:
Janelle Wells, an associate professor in the USF Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program, will talk about toxicity and sexism in esports. She recently wrote an op-ed about having an abundance mindset in women’s sport for SportsBusiness Journal.
A moderated discussion with Cxmmunity, an organization that helps increase the number of under-served minority students within the esports and video gaming industry. Scheduled to speak are Julian Fitzgerald, Cxmmunity co-founder and executive director, and John Cash, Cxmmunity chief development and education officer.
A discussion with HER Galaxy, a Tampa-based grassroots initiative focused on empowering women within esports. The organization aims to expand opportunities and resources for women in esports by building tournaments specifically for women gamers.
Tampa Bay Lightning broadcast host Paul Kennedy will return to emcee the event.
The summit will conclude with the 2022 Battle for Florida, a collegiate esports championship tournament that will crown the reigning champion of Florida esports. In September and October, over 30 esports teams from Florida colleges and universities in the Rocket League and League of Legends will compete in qualifying bracket and pool play matches.
The action-packed and gripping tournament experience culminates on Jan. 27 with the championship matches. The final matchups will be broadcast on Twitch and held live, in person, after the USF Esports Summit on the Muma College of Business Atrium video wall.
For more information about the summit, go here. Registration for the event is free for students and costs $40 for community members. To register, go here.