South Dakota State’s Hardrocker Esports Facility – Pioneering Varsity Program with Custom Training & Broadcast Studio

South Dakota’s first varsity esports program thrives at the Hardrocker Esports Practice Facility in the Surbeck Student Center, a trailblazing venue that debuted in August 2018 as the state’s inaugural collegiate gaming space. This dedicated hub empowers varsity squads with round-the-clock access for both fierce rivalries and laid-back sessions, cementing SDSU’s role as a regional esports frontrunner. Packed with 12 elite gaming stations, each rig rocks Intel i7-8700K CPUs, GeForce GTX 1080 (VR-ready) GPUs, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD + 3 TB Toshiba HDD, all housed in flashy NZXT H200i tempered-glass cases. Topped off with ASUS MG248Q 24″ monitors, iBuyPower MEK 2 Pro keyboards, Logitech G502 mice, HyperX Cloud Revolver S headsets, and Gamdias Achilles E1 chairs—it’s a dream setup fueled by VAST-sponsored high-speed internet for buttery-smooth, low-latency action.

As a university athletic facility, it is open exclusively to current South Dakota State University students and varsity team members, with no general public or neighboring community access available.

The space shines as a broadcast nerve center, streaming live Twitch matches and turning practices into pro-level productions. Teams dominate in League of Legends, Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, and Dota 2 across TESPA, Collegiate Star League, and RLCS circuits, guided by coordinators like Mike Vander Heyden. High school outreach amps the impact: the free “Grubby High School League” Rocket League tourney packs the arena with live casts, bridging collegiate fire with local talent and sparking statewide growth.

📍 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701
🕒 7 days/week (student/team hours; confirm via athletics)
🖥️ 12 elite PCs (i7-8700K/GTX 1080/16GB RAM/24″ ASUS monitors) • Premium peripherals • Broadcast studio
🎮 Varsity scrims (LoL, Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, Dota 2), high school league
💲 Free for varsity students (athletic fees)
🔧 Student-exclusive & broadcast-ready, supportive staff, inclusive athletic vibe
🎯 Ideal for competitive collegiate gaming with media training opportunities

📞 +1 (605) 688-6417
📧 esports@sdstate.edu
🌐 webpage