The city of Maricopa has a program hoping to change the game with esports by offering a facility where gamers can actually play together.
Maricopa Esports launched in 2019. It’s one of the first city sanctioned programs of its kind in Arizona.
The program, located within the Copper Sky Recreation Center, had been put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed earlier this year with safety precautions in place. It now hosts weekly video game tournaments, known as Versus Challenges. Up to 10 players can participate within the facility.
Out of consideration for the ongoing pandemic, computers have been set up with plexiglass partitions on each side separating each gamer, masks are also required inside.
Nathan Ullyot, director of community service for Maricopa, said there is no roadmap for a program like this, but keeping the facility open during this time can give gamers more…
