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January 14, 2026 鈥� Marist will open a new and expanded Esports Lab this semester as interest continues to grow in its championship-winning esports program, which is among 19 Club Sports offered at the University.

When completed, the new state鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慳rt Esports Lab will be one of the largest facilities in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), featuring approximately 38 high鈥憄erformance gaming stations, two private competition rooms, streaming capabilities, and collaborative areas for team gaming and strategy. A designated zone for popular titles such as Super Smash Bros. will further enhance the experience for players.

Located in Donnelly Hall adjacent to the current computer lab, the new Esports Lab is expected to open this spring semester, providing a dynamic new home for one of Marist鈥檚 fastest-growing student communities. 

鈥淚鈥檓 excited that this new facility will offer all the latest gaming technologies for our accomplished esports program to compete at the highest level,鈥� said Stephen D鈥橝lessandro, Assistant Athletic Director for Club and Intramural Sports at Marist. 鈥淒esigning this brand new, and much larger, Esports Lab reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to creating spaces and offering resources that help students connect, compete, and build community.鈥�

 
A rendering of the new Marist Esports facility now under construction in Donnelly Hall. Rendering by Liscum McCormack VanVoorhis Architects.

Esports has surged at the collegiate level in recent years, fueled by , opportunities to develop skills that translate to valuable career competencies in technology, communication and strategic thinking, and the industry鈥檚 rapid growth. There are now nearly 700 esports programs on college campuses nationwide, according to the 2024鈥�25 Collegiate Esports Trends Report from the Esports Trade Association.

Marist鈥檚 Esports program has earned five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) titles across Super Smash Bros., Overwatch 2, Valorant, Rocket League, and League of Legends. Overwatch 2 has been the program鈥檚 most successful title in recent MAAC championship play, capturing one conference championship and a runner鈥憉p finish over the past two seasons. The University鈥檚 Super Smash Bros. team has also achieved strong results, finishing as MAAC runner鈥憉p last year and earning a bid to compete in the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup Championship in Texas the previous season.

Marist's expansion of the esports facility builds on its commitment to technology and gaming represented in its excellent Game Design program, which has been featured as a top program in the country by The Princeton Review over the past 10 years.

Marist鈥檚 Esports team while competing in 2023. Photo by Stanley Martinez/Marist University.
 

鈥淭he Marist Esports Club has always been about the people, and the community built through esports has been central to our success, including wins in the MAAC playoffs and the West Point Invitational just last year,鈥� said Aiden Joyner '28, a Games and Emerging Media Major and secretary of the Esports Club. 鈥淲ith a larger facility on the way, it鈥檚 exciting to see the recognition the club has earned and to know our best years are still ahead.鈥�

At Marist, esports provides students with opportunities to build lasting friendships and a strong sense of community through shared interests and competition. 

鈥淭he club is all about the people and the close-knit friendships formed through the wins and losses of a season,鈥� said Daniel Brogen '26, a Games and Emerging Media Major and vice president and captain of the Overwatch 2 team. 鈥淲ith the new space, we can create an even better environment that strengthens connections and enhances the experience for everyone,鈥� he said.

The new Esports Lab was made possible in part through a generous gift from Deanna Fino and alumnus Michael Fino '90. Deanna is a local gaming industry entrepreneur and advocate for esports in the Hudson Valley, and Michael is a senior technology and operations executive whose career includes leadership roles at Amazon Web Services and IBM. Together, their contribution helped furnish the lab with thoughtfully designed elements that support team-based competition, focus, and performance.