FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (November 5, 2020) — MassBay Community College is proud to announce the launch of esports programming for enrolled students. Esports are video game tournaments in which student teams compete with other colleges and universities via virtual game rooms. MassBay is currently competing weekly in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 21. This fall, MassBay is competing in the popular game League of Legends against Bunker Hill Community College, Bristol Community College, and Quinsigamond Community College.
“I am extremely excited that our esports program is up and running,” said MassBay Assistant Director of Athletics and coach of MassBay’s esports program, Fielding Vaughn. “This is a great opportunity to get our students involved in a very popular, up-and-coming collegiate sport. We have a great group of students already playing, and we’ll be actively recruiting for next year’s teams.”
MassBay esports athletes virtually gather in the College’s Discord software account, where students individually participate in practices or games. Each week, MassBay livestreams their League of Legends matches over the MassBay Twitch account, and spectators can view previous games or catch replays.
“We are pleased to provide MassBay students with the opportunity to compete in this increasingly popular medium,” said MassBay Director of Athletics, Adam Nelson. “MassBay has continued to find ways to engage our students in competitive sports and activities, as we enrich their college experience.
MassBay currently has 100 active student members playing on our Discord account, and recruitment us underway to field teams in Rocket League and Overwatch games. In addition, students can compete in intramural esports opportunities, including playing the popular games NBA 2K, Madden, and FIFA.
“I am having a lot of fun being a part of the esports environment at MassBay,” said MassBay General Studies student and League of Legends player, Andre Belo, of Milford, MA. “This group has not only helped me become a stronger player, but it’s been a great bonding experience meeting new friends I wouldn’t have otherwise met. Our team really isn’t about oneself, but it’s about each other. Win or lose, we do it together as a team.”
According to www.grandviewresearch.com, the global esports market size was valued at $1.1 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 24.4% from 2020 to 2027. The company attributes this impressive growth to “increasing audience reach and engagement activities, formidable investments, rising live streaming of games, and increasing infrastructure for the league tournaments.”
Early this year, the NJCAA announced that fall sports would be postponed and played during the spring semester due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but, because esports is remote, it can be played year-round.
MassBay Community College is ranked by the Brookings Institution as one of the top schools for value added and earned salaries in the workforce. Ranked #1 for two-year colleges in Massachusetts, #2 in New England, and #16 nationally. The College’s facilities in Wellesley Hills, Framingham, and Ashland house day, evening and weekend classes that meet the needs of degree-seeking students and career minded lifelong learners. Online options provide convenience and allow faculty to facilitate the learning process. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and strives to meet the needs of the diverse local communities it serves.