In an area of Fort Collins known for burritos, ice cream, steaks and movies, comes a business centered around the vastly popular gaming industry.

"Fortnite," "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare," "League of Legends," "Volorant," "Apex Legends." If any of these titles ring a bell, you are a gamer. If they don't, maybe it's time to begin a new adventure.

Gaming has come a very long way since the days of Pong and Pac-Man. Do you remember your first full-on gaming experience? Maybe it was "Legend of Zelda," maybe it was "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater." Whichever it was, I think we've all felt the adrenaline of battling it out on a digital platform.

Contender eSports Gaming Center is opening a location off of Harmony and Timberline in Fort Collins, in the business park behind Cold Stone Creamery and The Matador.

What Is Contender eSports All About?

I had the same question. From their website:

Picture you and your friends bringing your favorite gaming systems over to your house and playing together. Now picture having that same experience without having to unhook and haul your gaming gear with you. Not only can you game at Contender eSports with your friends, but you get a more hype experience you won’t get at home.

Think you can’t be beat? Contender eSports hosts tournaments at least twice a month to find out who’s king (or queen) in your city. Whether you’re team Sony or Microsoft, or maybe PC rules the World, we’ve got something for you.

Did you know that Atari is credited with creating what we know as eSports? In 1980, 10,000 participants showed up for the Space Invaders Championship that they held. Contender Fort Collins will, of course, be hosting esports tournaments as well.

The company, based out of Springfield, Illinois, seems to be made up of a bunch of really nice people, too.

They even asked customers why they go to Contender:

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You can get an hour pass, a day pass, or one of their monthly membership plans; it all depends on how 'hard-core' you are. They also host birthday parties.

Systems that the Fort Collins Contender Esports will have:

  • 47 PCs
  • 5 XBoxes
  • 12 Nintendos

Take a look at one of their newer locations:

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