WNBA Champion Aerial Powers In Attendance For MSU’s Alienware Esports Lounge Grand Opening
It was recently announced that Michigan State University just opened its new state-of-the-arc Alienware Esports Lounge, which will be available for all students. The lounge 1,027-square-foot space located on the first floor of the MSU Communication Arts and Sciences building. It will also feature 12 Alienware Aurora R16 battle stations, Alienware m16 laptops, console gaming space, a varsity room, and a broadcast studio. In partnership with Rock Round, Texas-based company, Dell Technologies. Esports represents a swiftly expanding industry focused on structured competitive video gameplay.
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“We are honored to have the partnership of Dell Technologies, which is a critical pillar of the global technology industry,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “Elevating esports in our College of Communication Arts and Sciences complements the college’s top-ranked game design and development program and prepares many students for careers in technology, while ushering in an exciting new era of competition and community at MSU.”
The inaugural event of the lounge featured a notable roster of guests, including Dell Senior Director and PC Gaming Lead Matt McGowan, WNBA player and esports influencer Aerial Powers, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and several leaders from MSU.
Speaking of Aerial Powers, she is a brand and diversity ambassador with Team Liquid and a WNBA Champion, which won with the Washington Mystics in 2019, and Spartan alum.
Earlier this week Powers tweeted, “Yesterday was surreal! I joined DellTech, Alienware to open up MSU’s first Esports Gaming Lounge! What an honor! Go Green.”
Yesterday was surreal! I joined @Alienware @DellTech to open up MSU’s first Esports Gaming Lounge! What an honor! Go Green💚https://t.co/6k5jw0DeCj#esportslounge #gogreen #alienware #delltech #msualumni pic.twitter.com/L1iiwTJQgF
— LIQUID | Aerial Powers (@aerial_powers23) January 18, 2024
Michigan LT General Garlin Gilchrist II shared that computers changed his life and will the same for Spartans students.
“Computers changed my life, and this new, state-of-the-art esports lounge will do the same for countless Spartans,” Gilchrist said. “Students won’t just use this lounge to game. They will network with other future professionals, discover career opportunities, and build community. Governor Whitmer and I have worked hard to lower the cost of college and skills training, making more experiences like this one available for Michiganders in communities cross our state. We are grateful to all the partners who made this transformative gaming lounge happen.”
According to Christopher Bilski, this space marks the university’s inaugural venture of its kind, laying the groundwork for the expanding esports community at MSU.
“The Alienware MSU Esports Lounge will set a new standard for excellence in esports across the state,” said Christopher Bilski, director of esports at MSU. “We are excited to provide a space for our students to connect and compete, and we look forward to expanding our partnership with Alienware through innovative collaborations and events in the future.”
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