'Super Smash Bros. Mini-Tournament' Planned For E-Sports Arena Opening

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County officials Wednesday will celebrate the opening of The Arena, an Office of Education development intended for E-Sports competitions involving video gaming enthusiasts, as well as doubling as a sometime conference center for county business.

"We are honored to open the doors of The Arena to current and future students in Riverside County, who are connecting with one another and their school communities in exciting new ways through scholastic E-Sports," Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez said. "This new facility provides a cutting-edge space for competitions, while extending the sense of belonging and connection for students interested in pursuing their gaming passions in high school, at the next level in college, or as a career pathway."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was planned for 4 p.m. Wednesday at 3958 12th St.

Gomez will be joined by other county officials for the affair, which will include a tour and a "Super Smash Bros. Mini-Tournament," involving two dozen youths who will demonstrate how the gaming space functions.

The Arena was constructed at a cost of $10.5 million, and the county relied on property tax revenue previously allocated for redevelopment projects, officials said. The building was established on the site of a former conference center and boasts 4,000 square feet, featuring "retractable bleachers, customizable LED screens and lighting and simulcast capabilities for overflow spectators," according to the Office of Education.

The agency said up to a dozen players engaged in E-Sports contests will have room for simultaneous engagements, which about 400 spectators can observe.

"With a simple set-up change, the space can be used for small conferences of 100-150 attendees," the Office of Education stated.

There are team rooms, a podcast and video blog broadcast studio, tech lounge and offices at the location.