Esports Lounge – University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI, USA
A large, student-oriented lounge featuring PCs and console stations. Situated in the basement of the Student Union Recreation Center, UWM’s Esports Lounge is a vibrant hub for both competitive and casual gaming on campus. Officially launched in late 2024, this student-centered space quickly gathered momentum as a core part of UW–Milwaukee’s esports culture and campus recreation offerings.
Equipped with 45 Alienware PCs and console stations—including Switches, Xbox One X, PlayStation 5, and even Nintendo Wii—the lounge offers a polished, high-performance gaming experience tailored for students. Every PC comes outfitted with gaming peripherals and pre-installed with popular titles like League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, Overwatch, and Fortnite.
Designed and operated largely by the student-run Esports Milwaukee club, the lounge supports varsity and junior-varsity teams across multiple titles, while also hosting open tournaments and casual gaming sessions. The facility includes dedicated reservation zones for team practices and informal “drop-in” spaces for free play during non-reserved hours.
Several hundred unique students visited the lounge during its opening weeks—with daily attendance reaching 100+—highlighting its immediate popularity and active role on campus. Fortnite events, League of Legends matchups, and Marvel Rivals competitions are some of the favorite recurring gaming sessions held onsite.
Marketing relies heavily on digital platforms and in-person outreach: flyers across campus, Discord updates, screen notifications on lounge PCs, and campus weekly messaging boards help advertise events and boost turnout for tournaments and community nights.
The ethos at UWM is community-driven and inclusive—esports programming aims to balance casual play with varsity-level competition, fostering a welcoming environment for students of all skill levels. According to program leaders, this student-led model promotes authentic engagement and peer mentorship, while the lounge itself acts as a communal space rather than just a competitive arena.
Gaming at a glance:
📍 2200 East Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee, WI 53211
🕒 Mon–Fri 10 AM–9:45 PM; Sat 12–9:45 PM; Sun 12–7:45 PM
💻 45 Alienware PCs, Switches, Xbox One X, PS5s
🏆 Student team tryouts and club gaming events
💲 Free for students
🎯 Great for UWM students and student orgs
📞 +1 (414) 229–4825
📧 rec‑esports@uwm.edu
🌐 https://uwm.edu/union/esports/