Florida International University and Alienware have recently announced a new partnership with the unveiling of a 3,042-square-foot, world-class gaming lounge in the university’s student union.

As a result of collaborative efforts from Alienware and its parent company, Dell Technologies, the new Alienware FIU Esports Lounge boasts 39 gaming stations equipped with Alienware’s PC gaming hardware, including high-performance gaming PCs and monitors, tournament-ready peripherals, ergonomic gaming chairs, and more.

The launch celebration took place on the university’s main campus, and was attended by Esports industry professionals, university authorities, and local elected officials. Festivities included tours of the new facility, friendly showdowns among students, raffle draws, as well as guest appearances by competitive Esports influencers Team Liquid and Hungrybox.

The lounge’s grand opening serves as a landmark milestone in FIU’s multifaceted roadmap towards fostering a “culture of esports” at the university, supporting students with interest in gaming through academic programming, nationwide competitive team play, and intramural comradery. FIU’s goal here is to help students cultivate their passion for gaming so that they may secure lucrative careers in the Esports industry.

Another Florida university that made strides in its Esports facilities as of late was USF, or the University of South Florida. A little less than a month ago, they unveiled their Esports Living Lab, a 2700-square-foot open space dedicated to pushing the limits of the university’s collegiate Esports program.

Similar to FIU’s setup, USF’s Esports Living Lab is equipped with 40 Lenovo Legion gaming PCs, several console stations equipped with PlayStations, Xboxes and Nintendo Switches, a private gaming suite for Esports competition, and a broadcast space for students covering live events.

Jarif is a contributor at The Daily Esports.