It’s official! Melbourne, Australia is getting its own dedicated gaming and esports space. Just today, Fortress Esports Pty Ltd announced the largest video and gaming venue in the Southern Hemisphere is coming to Melbourne Emporium. The 2700+ square meter complex will span across two floors and will open its doors early 2020. The new venue will be called Fortress Melbourne and will be home to a multitude of facilities.
Fortress Melbourne
Melbourne Emporium, or just Emporium, is a luxury shopping center right in the heart of the CBD. It opened in 2014 and is home to over 30 designer brands across seven floors. With the opening of Fortress Melbourne, it will set a new dynamic for the shopping center. Gaming will be brought to the masses! Fans and players will attend the venue to watch and play their favorite games. Fortress Melbourne will feature gaming PCs, consoles, dedicated streamer pods, table top gaming, and freeplay areas. And it isn’t just about the games themselves. Functions rooms, a restaurant, two bars, and a 200-seat purpose-built esports arena will also be onsite.
The CEO at Fortress Esports said Melbourne is the perfect place to house this new arena:
Melbourne has become the epicentre for video gaming and esports culture with major events like Melbourne Esports Open and PAX Australia, so we’re excited to be opening our first flagship venue in Melbourne and offer Australians a video gaming entertainment space that they can enjoy all year round. We want to make Fortress Melbourne the ultimate ‘home away from home’ for everyone, from casual gamers, competitive gamers and esports fanatics, to families and after work crowds. Fortress Melbourne will offer the best video gaming experiences and entertainment, with the newest tech, fastest internet, comfortable decor, great food and drinks, and a rich calendar of events and tournaments, plus more. We are now looking to add to our roster of brand partners, so please reach out to us to find out more.
Unrivaled facilities
Fortress Melbourne will have some of the best facilities in the world. According to Press-Start, the entertainment space will feature the following:
- Purpose-built, dedicated esports arena with retractable 200 seat grandstand – lower ground
- 50+ networked PCs
- Esports “sports” bar
- Broadcast and production facilities
- 400+ square metre themed basement “tavern” bar and restaurant
- Dedicated 56 PC LAN lounge
- 4 streamer pods
- 200+ square metre function room with 40 extra PC’s for private events
- Dedicated area for RPG and tabletop gaming
- Professional esports boot camp room and training facilities
- 5+ big screens. These will broadcast live tournaments and international competitions
- Purpose built “casual console” gaming suites
- Merchandise store featuring both esports apparel and technology
Looks like this city is really upping its game on esports.
Melbourne’s esports scene continues to grow
Emporium has never seen anything like this for esports and entertainment. Unlike its neighboring store, Melbourne Central, there’s limited entertainment facilities in Emporium. Melbourne Central features Hoyts Cinemas, an anime bar, arcade bar, bowling, the Samsung Experience store, and numerous smaller pop-ups. With the addition of Fortress Melbourne in the CBD, it will further solidify Melbourne’s position as the entertainment capital of Australia. Furthermore, Melbourne has received great success on its esports front with the recent Melbourne Esports Open and the Fortnite Summer Smash. Who knows? Maybe Intel Extreme Masters will come to Melbourne in 2020!
Follow the official Fortress Twitter page to catch all the action. Stay tuned with us as we continue to bring you the best esports in the world!
