Open Tournament Featuring Fortnite August 2nd
Back to School Bash on August 22nd
Open Tournament Featuring Fortnite on August 23rd
Revolutionizing Esports
North Carolina Esports Academy
Day: May 4, 2022
For years, esports has been treated like a free activity, something players can participate in without paying a dime. And while that may have worked when large game publishers were footing the bill for the sake of brand engagement, that model isn’t sustainable, especially for local and for-profit organizations trying to build real businesses. It’s
If you’ve been wondering why things have been quiet with Carolina Storm lately—you’re not wrong. After launching the organization in March 2025 (following nearly a year of planning), we hit some bumps in the road. While I knew going in that this project would take time and money—and that it wasn’t going to be profitable
Recently, Raleigh hosted the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Major, marking the third major esports event the city has held this year. As a lifelong Rocket League fan, this event was especially meaningful to me. It’s the first game I truly loved watching and the one that brought me to my first LAN event back
North Carolina Esports Academy recently had the opportunity to participate in the Amateur Esports Association (AEA) All American Nationals Tournament—an exciting, high-level event that brought together some of the best youth esports teams from across the country. Teams competing included AEA league champions as well as top talent from other respected organizations nationwide. Our own
A few years ago, youth and scholastic esports looked like one of the most promising areas in the industry. Schools were getting involved, organizations were popping up, and kids were excited about competing in something they genuinely loved. But lately, there’s been a major shift—and not in a good way. Over the past couple of
Recently, Raleigh had the opportunity to host the collegiate finals for League of Legends and Valorant at North Carolina State University. Produced by the Riot Scholastic Association of America and organized in partnership with NC State students, the event was well-run, professionally executed, and a solid addition to the growing esports presence in the Triangle
Prize pools in esports have become expected—even at the local, amateur level. And while it’s easy to understand why that trend started, it might be time to pause and ask if it’s really helping the long-term growth of the industry. To be clear, I’m not talking about major tournaments or elite-level competitions. Players who’ve reached
This year, we had the chance to represent esports at two exciting events: the first-ever NC Sports Con and North Carolina FC’s Fan Fest. Both experiences highlighted the growing connection between traditional sports and esports—and showed how, when done right, gaming can be a powerful tool for engagement. At NC Sports Con, we hosted a
On April 12th, we had the chance to participate in the inaugural Nerdvana Expo at the Sheraton Imperial Airport Hotel. The event brought together a wide mix of card games, retro gaming, console and PC setups, and even old-school arcade machines—essentially, a full celebration of gaming culture. It was a great opportunity for us to
North Carolina Esports Academy is dedicated to building character and life skill development through productive video gaming. The entire staff is committed to creating premier youth development experiences in order to create pathways for youth in STEM careers.
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