The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) has set a new standard in collegiate esports with the opening of Comets Landing, one of the largest and most advanced campus gaming and esports facilities in the U.S.
Designed as both a competitive arena and a student-first community hub, the $15 million, 16,000-square-foot center embodies UTD’s commitment to innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence.
What makes it unique
Unlike traditional esports venues, Comets Landing is purpose-built for both competition and education. The arena includes 50 high-performance gaming stations, a professional-grade broadcast studio, and precision AV integration for live-streamed competitions. Outside, an Absen LED video wall transforms the common area into a viewing plaza for watch parties, extending the experience beyond the arena.
Innovation and impact
- Immersive AV design: Panasonic cameras, Chief projectors, Q-SYS controls, and Sennheiser audio deliver an edge-of-your-seat, low-latency competitive experience
- Hybrid-ready infrastructure: Facilities support multi-source routing, live broadcast, and hybrid events at professional standards
- Academic integration: Beyond gameplay, the facility doubles as a teaching lab—supporting esports broadcasting, media production, game design, and event management programs through UTD’s School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
- Inclusive community: Comets Landing offers social lounges, console gaming, and casual spaces alongside its high-stakes competition rooms, ensuring accessibility and welcoming all students, not only elite players
Entertainment in new ways
Visitors and students are engaged through dynamic competition, real-time shoutcasting, and social gaming experiences. Faculty and students alike filled every station at launch, underscoring the centre’s role as a vibrant hub of connection, learning, and entertainment.
Results
Within its first month, over 2,000 students created accounts at Comets Landing, with continued growth even under a membership model. Faculty, administrators, and students use the space not only for gaming but also for teaching, research, and community building. As Dr. Gene Fitch of UT Dallas shared: “People were yelling and laughing, playing games, and connecting. That’s the experience we wanted to create.”
By merging high-end esports design, academic opportunity, and inclusive culture, UTD’s Comets Landing proves that collegiate esports is more than entertainment—it’s a platform for innovation, education, and community impact.
Partners
- AVI-SPL – AV/UC integration partner
- SmithGroup – Architectural design
- Henderson Engineers – Immersive facility design
- Technology Partners: Absen, Chief, Panasonic, Q-SYS, Sennheiser
