PEC this year was special. Year two is where you start to feel real momentum, and this one had it. The Power Esports Conference brought together top collegiate programs to compete, collaborate, and push the space forward, all in one room.
Nine of the best programs in the country showed up:
Baylor University
Boise State University
University of Kansas
Michigan State University
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska
Ohio State University
Syracuse University
University of Utah
These are real programs, real operations, real competition.
And yeah, we had a full show!
For me, this was what esports is supposed to feel like. Everyone collaborating, building it together in real time. A lot of these teams and the arena itself are our customers, so it felt like we were building the infrastructure with them, not just showing up for the event. From what was happening on stage to everything behind the scenes, the goal was simple: make it work in the room and make it work for everyone watching at home. We were right in the middle of that, helping power the experience across the HyperX Arena
Joey Gawrysiak, Executive Director of Esports at Syracuse, set the tone and kept it evolving all weekend. What he and the team built here is great!. You can see the structure, you can feel the momentum, and it’s only going to keep growing. And on top of producing the event, he’s managing his own teams on a trip to Vegas. That’s not easy. That’s real work! Hilarious!
Sean Kelly, Director of Production at Syracuse, just grabbed it and ran with it. Live broadcast is chaos, and he handled it like a pro. Fitz and I were pumped to jump in, mentor, support, and help shape the vision with him. Really awesome to be part of that.
Saving the best for last, Doc Haskell, Head Coach of Esports at Boise State University.
His teams crushed it, and he also took home Program of the Year, which we were proud to sponsor, all while managing his squad through a full weekend in Vegas. That’s not light work. That’s being a pro.
And Doc and Boise State just delivered. Straight up. Players, staff, the whole program showed up and earned it. That’s exactly what you want to see at this level.
This space isn’t figuring itself out anymore. It’s here, and it’s being built by the right people learning how to collaborate and build the infrastructure together.
We’re glad we were part of it, and we’re looking forward to what comes next. If your program is looking for better infrastructure, reach out. We’ve got the tools, we’ve got the experience, and we’re already powering some of the best programs out there.
Let’s talk about yours.
