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Professional esports gets its first home in America

A 14,000-square foot arena dedicated to gaming is set to open soon.

By James Dator
The MLG main stage as it was used at the MLG X Games Invitational. According to MLG, this is what the arena will look like.
The MLG main stage as it was used at the MLG X Games Invitational. According to MLG, this is what the arena will look like.

The United States will be getting its first pro-focused esports arena in Columbus, Ohio when Major League Gaming opens the doors to MLG.tv Arena in late-October.

An existing building close to Easton Mall will be revamped with "a main stage set up, sound proof booths, lights, video screens, bleachers, monitors, IT and video equipment to broadcast via MLG.tv," Katie Goldberg of MLG tells SB Nation.

It's unclear whether the arena will be an extension of MLG's current circuit, or whether the Columbus arena will serve as the new hub for the company's esports operations. The announcement of MLG.tv Arena comes almost six months after the announcement the U.S.-based esports company would be breaking ground on a 15,000-seat arena in China.

MLG.tv Arena is roughly 15 minutes from The Ohio State University, and the college atmosphere in the area is something that attracted MLG to Columbus, according to Adam Apicella of MLG:

"Columbus has hosted some of our most successful events to date. With 62 colleges in the Columbus region, hundreds of thousands of university and high school students in the 11-county area, and close proximity to our audience on the East Coast, Columbus is a great location for our MLG.tv Arena. We look forward to hosting the best players in the world and continuing to collaborate with the passionate community at OSU and their eSports initiative - ESI, as well as those throughout Ohio and beyond."

MLG.tv Columbus Arena will open the weekend of October 24-26, making its debut with the playoffs of MLG Call of Duty: Ghosts pro league.