The opening tournament at Major League Gaming’s new Columbus arena is this weekend, making the city the "first location to have a dedicated video-game tournament space" outside of the 12-year-old company’s N.Y. studios, according to Tim Feran of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. While the arena "is more of a grandly equipped TV studio than a conventional arena," it is "the new flagship for MLG." At 14,000 square feet -- "slightly larger than the typical CVS store" -- the new MLG.tv Columbus Arena "is big enough to hold 200 fans in bleacher-style seats." The building also "holds a small gift shop and a large studio set that includes two soundproof booths for competing teams of gamers, two large video screens to show the action, and above it all, a commentator booth." MLG "often holds events in much larger spaces," but it "lacked a dedicated space for smaller events and chose Columbus in which to build one." MLG is "building a third venue -- in China" -- because of its "growing audience in Asia." The 15,000-seat arena in China is "set to open" in '17 on Hengqin Island, off the coast of Macau (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/24).
