Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), in collaboration with “GG Arena,” opened the first public university esports space in Lithuania on February 27. This step is highly significant for the growth of the country’s esports sector, providing students with the opportunity to engage in active esports activities, participate in international tournaments, and attend events.
On the occasion of the opening, a tournament of the world’s most popular football game, EA FC PRO, was held in the new space, located at Laisvės Ave. 38. The winners of the tournament were awarded prizes established by VDU and the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF).
A gift to the community and the city
VMU Vice-Rector for Studies and Sports Simona Pilkienė emphasized that the opening of the first public university esports space is a gift from the university to its community and to esports enthusiasts in Kaunas.
“We are proud that VMU is not only a leader in traditional sports in Lithuania and among the leaders in Europe, but also contributes to the rapidly growing esports sector. We believe that this space will encourage community spirit at the university, offer our students and staff the opportunity to practice esports, and by organizing tournaments, we will create additional entertainment for the local residents,” said S. Pilkienė.
At Vytautas Magnus University, esports plays an important role in sports studies, training modern coaches. Additionally, leisure sports activities, including world and European tournaments and various game disciplines, are organized. With the opening of the new modern space in the city center, the university aims to provide students with even more opportunities to improve their skills and succeed in this rapidly growing field.
A step towards the future
Edgaras Abromavičius, head of VMU esports, pointed out that esports is an integral part of many students’ daily lives, and therefore modern universities must provide conditions for students to practice this discipline.
“We have already seen for several years that interest in esports at the university is growing, so the opening of this new space has become a necessity in our view. We thank our partners, GG Arena, who made it possible to have a modern esports space, freely accessible to our university students and the entire community,” said E. Abromavičius.
The opening of the esports space symbolizes VMU’s commitment to promoting innovation and contributing to the development of modern technologies. This step also helps create a favorable environment for young people who are increasingly focusing on gaming culture. It is a step towards a future where esports activities and events will become an integral part of student life.
Plans – tournaments and esports growth
During the opening of the esports arena, the EA FC PRO tournament was held. VMU students participated and competed for prizes established by VMU and LFF. The tournament gathered dozens of esports enthusiasts from different study fields, with significant interest from international students. This highlighted that the new space is not only a great opportunity to showcase one’s skills but also to meet like-minded individuals, improve one’s skills, and expand knowledge.
VMU plans to organize more tournaments and esports activities in this new space, targeting university students and pupils from VMU schools. It is hoped that it will become an engaging new space for community gatherings and events at the university.
