How Lenovo's Gaming Solutions Power Esports Programs

Only a few years ago, Lenovo sales representatives startedreceiving a steady stream of gaming inquiries from secondary schools anduniversities. They were asking what equipment they should buy to start anesports program in their schools. There's little wonder why. Students lovegaming.

The 2018 League of Legends World Championship finals had 100 million viewers more than the Super Bowl! Today, the National Association of Collegiate Esports has more than 170 U.S. colleges with varsity esports programs and approximately $16 million per year in scholarships is being offered. Tespa, a network of college gamers, notes over 1,350 schools and 40,000 student e-athletes competed in its tournaments for $3.3 million in prizes and scholarships.

Back then, we were getting a lot of interest from schoolsabout setting up esports programs. Schools wanted gaming computers, monitorsand networking solutions. A very positive inflection point was just beginning,said Rich Henderson, Director of Global Education Solutions of Lenovo'sIntelligent Devices Group. The most significant trend other than just interestand demand from schools was that few had any idea how to actually start oroperate an esports program.

Not many educators and their IT administrators are hardcoregamers or had participated in esports events. This is new and excitingterritory for most of the education market, but one in which they would needguidance to set up a successful program at their school.

How Lenovo's Player One Levelled Up EsportsSolutions

Lenovo's Intelligent Devices Group business pressed Start' and brought in Jeff Palumbo to be the Global Education Esports Solutions Manager. Jeff is a lifelong gamer and experienced business leader. In 2015, Jeff launched Lenovo's gaming solutions, the precursor to the successful Lenovo Legion gaming PCs and equipment. In addition, he has years of consulting and ecommerce experience under his belt.  A proven high-point scorer with more than a few gold coins in his pocket for superpowers, Jeff was uniquely positioned to level up Lenovo's esports offering for education.

I spent the first several months constantly going out onsales calls and listening to our education customers. Schools were reallystruggling. Many of them knew what they wanted a thriving esports program toengage students. But how to put the infrastructure in place, what equipment tobuy, how to kit out an esports arena, how to manage a varsity team, broadcastgaming events, or get sponsors This was all well beyond their experience,Jeff said. And to make matters worse, vendors were overselling them priceygaming equipment they just didn't need. Some schools we met with had beenburned and were reluctant to dip their toes deeper in the esports ocean.

This is when Jeff realized that what education customersreally needed was not better, or right-sized gaming equipment, it was advice.The Lenovo Esports Solution for Education transformed from a set of hardwareand software offerings to an end-to-end solution with strategic counselling asa foundation.

Lenovo's custom esports solution forschools includes

Discovery From increasing positive studentengagement to achieving high-level competition, Lenovo will help you envisionwhat a program could look like for your students.

Consultation Lenovo brings a consultative andadvisory approach to esports programs, standing by to support and mentor thedevelopment of your esports program for free.

Goal Setting Future-proof your program andidentify key success metrics to track over time, ensuring esports is a smart,long-term investment.

To help build a school's esports program, Lenovo offersend-to-end solutions from design and construction to software solutions andfurniture options. To round it off, a fantastic set of products and accessoriesare available in the Lenovo Legion and Workstation lines, all backed byeducation warranty and leasing options.

Today, students at all levels are spread across a range ofoptions and activities for learning, from in-school to distance learning andhybrid scenarios. The Lenovo Esports Solutions for Education includes theability for students to join a school gaming network. Network solutions allowplayers to game from home, a dorm room or on campus with matchups andleaderboards to spur competition. The solution can include network and leaguemanagement capabilities to maintain and optimize the experience for esportsstudent athletes.

To learn more aboutLenovo's solutions for higher education, please visit CDW.ca/education