Purdue Northwest Esports – Dual-Campus Varsity & Club Gaming Hubs

Purdue Northwest Esports launched Pride Esports in fall 2020 as Indiana’s first public-university varsity program, now a full NCAA D-II sport with state-of-the-art arenas on both Hammond and Westville campuses (opened late 2022). These high-tech spaces fuel over 120 student-athletes in varsity and club play, blending pro-grade competition with open lounge access.

As university-managed facilities, the arenas are open exclusively to current PNW students, faculty, and staff (reservations encouraged; walk-ins OK if stations free; 2-hour cap per session), with no general public or neighboring community access available.

Each arena packs team play stations, ergonomic gaming chairs, coach’s area, and review lounges for showcases or strategy huddles. Varsity squads battle in League of Legends, Rocket League, Call of Duty: Vanguard, Valorant, and Super Smash Bros., while club tiers welcome all skill levels.

PNW extends its reach through the Indiana Esports Network (IEN) partnership hosting Fortnite tournaments for middle/high schoolers on-campus since Fall 2023, turning the arenas into regional esports incubators.

📍 2200 169th Street, Hammond, IN 46323
🕒 Available during student center hours and varsity practice times
🕒 Student/faculty hours (2-hr sessions; reserve via PNW app)
🖥️ High-performance PCs • Ergonomic chairs • Coach/review zones
🎮 Varsity scrims (LoL, Rocket League, CoD, Valorant, Smash), club play, IEN youth tourneys
💲 Free for PNW affiliates
🔧 Student-exclusive & reliable, supportive staff, inclusive campus vibe
🧭 Emergent program serving student competitors

📞 +1 (219) 989-2728 / +1 (219) 989-2400
📧 esports@pnw.edu
🌐 website