NIU Esports Arena (Northern Illinois University) – DeKalb, IL, USA

Serving NIU students, this campus esports facility offers open-play access, team competition, and streaming space—all within the Recreation Center. Northern Illinois University’s Esports Arena is located in Altgeld Hall, Room 100, and operates daily during the academic year, welcoming anyone on the DeKalb campus to drop in and game from noon to 10 pm. It provides both casual open play and structured opportunities, featuring practice space for varsity teams including League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Valorant.

The program emphasizes inclusivity and healthy gaming, inviting students of all experience levels to participate. Whether you’re a beginner or competitive player, the arena fosters community and emotional resilience through video games.

To maintain a positive environment, the arena enforces policies requiring students to swipe their OneCard, prohibits personal food and unsecured gear, and outlines a strict code of conduct—no harassment, toxicity, cheating, or software manipulation allowed.

Students can also join the student-run Huskie Gaming club, which hosts informal and club-level tournaments for gamers looking to build skills or just hang out. Meanwhile, the varsity esports teams compete within the Esports Collegiate Conference and benefit from structured practices in this space.

The arena also supports events and flexible hours, including special “study hall” or mental reset sessions during finals week.

Gaming at a glance:
📍 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy. DeKalb, IL 60115 (NIU campus)
🕒 Open daily while classes are in session, typically noon–10 PM
💻 Gaming PCs and consoles for student use; check-in with student ID
🏆 Varsity practice space, student club gaming, department-supported events
💲 Free for NIU students; limited public access via reservations
🧭 Academic-centered, structured, school-run esports environment

📞 Not publicly listed
📧 esports@niu.edu
🌐 https://www.niu.edu/esports/about/arena.shtml