The new Arlington Esports Stadium opened Saturday in the city's old Convention Center.
City leaders said it is more than just a video game facility, the $10 million upgrade could be a game-changer for the future of the city and the region.
As the American esports frontier pushes forward, North Texas is making a play for digital dominance.
"It's really futuristic. Really modern. I really like it here," 18-year-old Mateo Guevara of Dallas said.
Guevara was a part of the sold out inaugural crowd who packed the new stadium to watch an international competition.
"It's something that's very individual sometimes -- so you are alone in front of your computer watching and playing," Guevara said. "Getting together and playing with like-minded people and experiencing it in a very cool atmosphere is just a different experience."
Guevara thinks the draw of esports lovers from around the world will be a winning move for Arlington.
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"I think bigger games like League of Legends… I think those are the types of events that will get people out," he said. "You have a lot of really cool, first-class amenities around here. A lot of cool restaurants -- Cowboy's stadium is right. Lots of hotels."
Esports experts like Nancy Coblenz, CEO of Rebel Role Model agreed.
"We are stealing a lot of the thunder for gaming and professional gaming here in America by having the largest esports stadium," Coblenz said.
"Quite honestly, we are already behind in the times because already South Korea, China, Japan [and] even in Europe -- this is the soccer of the digital world out there," she added. "We are already around five to seven years behind, so we have a lot of catching up to do very quickly."
Coblenz thinks the future of the very lucrative esports industry runs through North Texas.
