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The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
The Planet Oasis sports-and-entertainment project in Delaware County will include a $10 million arena dedicated to the emerging business of esports, developers of the complex announced Monday.
"We are very excited to bring an esports partnership, one of the fastest growing entertainment experiences in the world, to Planet Oasis Ohio," said David Glimcher, CEO of Blue Horseshoe Ventures, developer of the project, in a statement.
The multilevel, multi-use arena is designed to host every form of gaming and features a competition stage, giant LED video wall, UltraStar Gamer Caves PC and console gaming stations, and TV broadcast production studio, according to Blue Horseshoe Ventures.
Details on construction timetable and opening date were not available.
Columbus has been a hotbed for esports for more than a decade and will host the Call of Duty World League Championship at Nationwide Arena this weekend.
In addition, Major League Gaming opened its first dedicated arena tournament space outside of New York in 2014 on the Northeast Side. But the MLG Arena, at 14,000 square feet — slightly larger than the typical CVS store — is dwarfed in size by the planned 30,000-square-foot esports arena planned for Planet Oasis.
The intent is to create "a home for the gaming community in the Midwest," said Jeffrey Schoonover, principal of Peninsula Lifestyle Capital, who is leading the project for Blue Horseshoe Ventures.
"This is truly the next generation in emerging sports and entertainment," he said in a statement.
The esports arena is part of the $2 billion Planet Oasis project that is planned for 350 acres adjacent to the Tanger Outlet mall on the east side of I-71 in Delaware County.
The Planet Oasis complex, as envisioned, also includes indoor skydiving, go-kart racing, rock climbing, an indoor water park, skate park and BMX racing, as well as other attractions. A wellness center, hotels, a conference center and at least 70 restaurants also are in the plans.
Nearly half of Planet Oasis is expected to open by December 2019, Glimcher said.
@timferan
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