Red Bull Gaming Hub empowers Toronto students and collegiate esports cover image

Red Bull Gaming Hub empowers Toronto students and collegiate esports

The academic year has begun, and the Red Bull Gaming Hub at The Creative School is accelerating Canada as a major esports hub!

Red Bull and the Toronto Metropolitan University have announced the launch of the Red Bull Gaming Hub. Located inside the Rogers Communications Centre, this new gaming hub will become the home to events, education and Canadian esports.  

Inside of the Red Bull Gaming Hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.
Inside of the Red Bull Gaming Hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.

All About the Red Bull Gaming Hub

In addition to becoming a place for post-secondary students, the hub will host tournaments, streams and broadcasts. The space will support students who will become the next generation of industry professionals, creators and esports stars. 

The Red Bull Gaming Hub is a response to the growing demand for engagement and education within the gaming and esports industries.

Dr. Kristopher Alexander

“Currently, there is a growing need for talent in video games, virtual production, and esports industries,” Dr. Kristopher Alexander, the director of the Red Bull Gaming Hub and the director of research at The Conduit and assistant professor in RTA School of Media, said. 

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Red Bull Gaming Hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Red Bull Gaming Hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.

Alexander also noted that his team is ready to talk, teach and train collegiate gamers in terms of designing virtual sports and building their own computers. This is in addition to using Unreal Engine for film, television and broadcasting in the esports world. 

 “The Red Bull Gaming Hub is a response to the growing demand for engagement and education within the gaming and esports industries,” Alexander said. He added how the heart of the partnership is community. This is because active members of esports, virtual production and game design will run the facility. 

The Red Bull Gaming Hub is a huge step towards the future of interactive student engagement and competitive excellence in gaming and esports.

Geoffrey Lachapelle

The Intersection of Gaming, Esports and Education

Geoffrey Lachapelle, Manager of the Red Bull Gaming Hub, shared similar thoughts in a press release. He said that the hub is a significant step towards the future of how students engage with gaming and esports. The hybrid approach of esports and education will aid in learning and application while developing the practical skills required for video game technologies. 

“We will empower students with the tools to explore the revolutionary possibilities of software tools like Open Broadcast System, or more notably Unreal Engine 5, which have applications across the entire spectrum of media content creation,” Lachapelle added.

The gaming hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.
The gaming hub. Image via Red Bull Canada.

Building Up the Canadian Esports Industry

The hub itself will have 36 gaming computers, AMD technology, a 5:1 surround sound system plus wall-mounted displays to aid with education. 

Students will use this space to connect with peers, learn, train and compete. They will also get the chance to kick off their careers in gaming and esports. This will also benefit the Canadian industry as whole due to the increase of interest in education and employment. 

The hub is another one of Red Bull’s efforts that supports post-secondary gamers. There is the Red Bull Campus Clutch event that gives students the opportunity to duke it out on the global stage.