South Dakota’s first varsity esports program, with a custom-built training & broadcast facility

Located in the Surbeck Student Center, the Hardrocker Esports Practice Facility is a pioneering collegiate esports venue in South Dakota, officially opening in August 2018 as the first of its kind in the state. It serves as the dedicated home for the Hardrocker varsity esports teams, offering students both competitive and recreational gaming access seven days a week.

The facility houses 12 high-performance gaming stations, each outfitted with RBG-accented hardware that includes Intel i7‑8700K processors, GeForce GTX 1080 (VR-ready) graphics cards, 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD paired with a 3 TB Toshiba HDD, and enclosed in sleek NZXT H200i tempered-glass cases—all complemented by top-tier peripherals like ASUS MG248Q 24″ monitors, iBuyPower MEK 2 Pro mechanical keyboards, Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum mice, HyperX Cloud Revolver S headsets, and comfortable Gamdias Achilles E1 chairs.

It also boasts a dedicated high-speed internet connection sponsored by VAST, enabling low-latency gaming crucial for competitive play. The facility doubles as the broadcasting center for Hardrocker Esports, featuring streaming infrastructure for live Twitch broadcasts—positioning it as both an arena and performance studio.

Beyond hardware, the esports program fosters community and development. Led by coordinators like Mike Vander Heyden, the varsity teams compete in titles such as League of Legends, Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, and Dota 2 in leagues like TESPA, the Collegiate Star League, and Rocket League Championship Series. The facility also hosts the “Grubby High School League,” a free Rocket League tournament that bridges collegiate and high school gamers with live-casted matches.

Gaming at a glance:
📍 501 East Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, South Dakota, 57701
🕒 Open seven days: Mong–Sun structured around classes and team practices
💻 12 i7/GTX1080 PCs, high-speed internet, Twitch broadcasting studio
🏆 Includes varsity teams in LoL, Rocket League, Valorant, Smash, Apex & studio-led LAN events
💲 Free for students, faculty & staff; campus-wide access
🎯 Ideal for competitive collegiate gaming with media training opportunities

📞 via website
📧 via website
🌐 webpage