Ribbon-cutting ceremonies set for DC athletic facilities, eSports arena

September 24, 2018

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for major renovations to athletic facilities at Defiance College are set for Friday, Oct. 5. A ribbon-cutting event will also celebrate completion of the new eSports arena on campus.

A ceremony at the eSports arena in Pilgrim Library will begin at 12:40 p.m., followed by ribbon-cutting at the Karl H. Weaner Community Center and McMaster Center at 1:20 p.m. Both events are open to the public and are part of 2018 Homecoming activities.

“All of these projects were undertaken to enhance our students’ experiences during their time at Defiance College and to allow us be more competitive in our recruitment efforts,” said DC president Dr. Richanne C. Mankey.

“We’re very excited for the inaugural year of our eSports program and believe this dedicated space for an arena will give students the optimal experience. Improvements to our athletic facilities not only impact current student-athletes, but greatly enhance our ability to recruit future student-athletes. Visitors will be impressed by the outstanding upgrades to these facilities.”

A 4,156 square foot addition of four new locker rooms was made to the McMaster Center. Renovations were also made to the Weaner Center and Justin F. Coressel Stadium, totaling 7,600 square feet.

The project included:

• Renovation and expansion of men’s and women’s locker rooms, public restroom improvements, new display area, and enhanced security to existing spaces in the Weaner Center.
• Addition of four locker rooms designed to allow for future expansion in the McMaster Center.
• An interactive TV in the Weaner Center lobby was donated by Alumni Varsity D.

Design Collaborative, an architecture and engineering firm, and Weigand Construction, both of Fort Wayne, Ind., teamed together to create these state-of-the-art athletic support spaces. Also working on the project were Highland Electric and Leever Glass of Defiance.

The eSports arena will have 12 new optimized gaming computers and gaming chairs as the college moves into the realm of eSports. Students will use hand-selected mice, keyboards, and headsets “to give them the best gear on the market,” said head coach Corey Parks.

The arena also includes two 70-inch televisions to develop strategy, review demos, and practice teamwork. “Overall, the eSports arena will create an environment for our students to succeed in-game and out-of-game,” said Parks. “More importantly, the creation of the arena does something you can't get anywhere else - an environment for students who want to compete and grow with peers, the essential building blocks of any competitive team.”

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College competes in Division III of the NCAA and is a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The College website is www.defiance.edu.