From Consoles to Careers: Endicott鈥檚 Esports Lab is Shaping the Future of Gaming
Walking through Lower Callahan, you can’t miss the brand-new Endicott Esports Lab. Inside, groups of students sink into gaming chairs, playing Fortnite, Super Smash Brothers, Overwatch, and other multiplayer classics on state-of-the-art PCs.
But the lab is much more than a place to unwind. “Gaming is a positive reinforcement of technology in a world increasingly driven by data-backed decisions,” said Esports Coordinator Brendan Hall, or “B. Hall,” as students like to call him. “They’re building critical entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills that will set them up as professionals in esports and beyond.”
Endicott first entered the esports game in 2019, leveling up from offering esports management courses to a minor, and now, a newly created major. Based at the School of Sport Science, Endicott’s Bachelor of Science in Esports Management degree combines computer science, traditional sports management coursework, and defining internships.
Professor of Sport Management Dina Gentile and Associate Professor of Sport Management Alyssa Czarnecki are the visionaries behind its growth. Gentile is a leader in the academic discipline, authoring two books on esports management. Hall joined Endicott last year to organize and grow gaming in casual, recreational, and competitive settings while also teaching in the esports management program.
Their combined efforts exemplify the hands-on, immersive experiences that define the Endicott Experiential Edge—where students not only learn academically but gain a competitive advantage through real-world application.
“We pride ourselves on connecting our students with our vast network of industry professionals,” said Hall. Visitors to his classes have included leaders from brands with gaming verticals including Red Bull, Oakley, EA Sports, as well as world-renowned organizations like Gen.G and T1.
“Guest speaker visits last year led to several students landing internships with the speaker’s company,” he said. “Other esports students get mentored by said professionals in our network.”
What can you do with an esports degree?
Like traditional sports, esports are played by teams of skilled athletes who compete in multiplayer gaming at the club, school, national, and world levels. The industry is on fire, with a projected annual revenue of U.S. $4.3 billion this year alone and nearly 900 million dedicated fans by 2029.
The job outlook for esports careers is just as exciting, with opportunities to enter the industry and build expertise in esports marketing, promotion and event coordination, competition management, event production, team management, media production and distribution, esports finance, esports law, gaming and game development, professional streaming, and blogging.
Influencer marketing is everything. “Esports is an area where a creator economy is massive,” explained Hall. “While studying how to build their brands, students also learn a lot about themselves.”
He brings on-the-ground expertise to the classroom and the lab, having previously overseen strategy for brands, including the and esports teams, Bytes Foxboro restaurant, and Helix eSports gaming centers.
“We want to show people that this is an inclusive space. Come play, bring your friends, join a team,” said Ben Fridlington ’25. The business major is the president of the, which held its first meetings last fall, and he helps oversee the new lab.
Fridlington’s experiences at Endicott have already set him up for a career in esports. He is passionate about the management side of gaming technology and, with his computer know-how, he’s positioning himself to work with teams focusing on both hardware and software.
He’s not alone. Endicott esports students and players are rapidly entering the industry with sponsorships and internships.
Computer science major Cam Miller ’26 interned for a gaming studio and got hands-on experience building a high-traffic website. Noah MacAllister ’24, who plays Overwatch, interned at All Systems Go, a popular esports venue in Worcester, Mass., after earning a B.S. in Esports Management.
Kayla Rivera ’26, a graphic design major who plays Fortnite, is getting real-world experience as the Esports Club’s Director of Content and one of the lab monitors.
In esports, branding is prominently featured, and big team logos are worn just like the Red Sox or Celtics. Rivera wants to make the Endicott Esports logo pop even more and is working on a brand refresh to incorporate an edgier geometric style and a play on the College’s gull mascot.
The project also includes creating a suite of branding guidelines—all original creative work she will display on her portfolio and use to get hired after graduation. “I see a future in web design—and I would be excited if that involved the esports industry,” Rivera said.
Growing interest in esports, one click at a time
At 12, Fridlington taught himself how to build a PC by watching YouTube videos.
By now, he’s built 68 increasingly sophisticated computers—and counting. Fridlington incorporated tricked-out lighting and software in his latest kit and took it to Endicott’s Involvement Fair to generate buzz for the club.
“There has been a lot of interest in our club—a big group of students signed up this year,” he said.
With the Endicott Esports Lab’s more visible location in Lower Callahan, more and more Gulls will likely be curious about esports and—Fridlington hopes—pick up a gaming controller.
“We are trying to get as many people involved in esports as possible. You don’t have to be a competitive player yet to join—you have to want to learn,” he explained. “You’re going to get that here.”
Gulls will also get watch parties, time for free play, competitions in popular titles, and even broadcasting opportunities to practice their commentating skills.
Endicott’s esports team plays in multiple leagues, and a growing Gull fanbase follows their and shows up to support them. One of the Overwatch team members, marketing major Erineldo “Adrian” Chico ’27, has previously peaked at the top 350 among U.S. players for Overwatch and is building his brand online. Many others are moving up, too.
Hall watched with pride last year when—even without the multi-million-dollar infrastructure of other programs in place—Endicott made it to round 16 of the season’s first big championship.
The team has even more ambitious hopes this year because now they won’t have to log in from their dorm room consoles—they’ll be together in the lab with an audience cheering them on.
Deb Swanton, Dean of the School of Sport Science, said it was inspiring to see the vision for the new lab turn into reality.
“We are excited to have the lab to support both our esports management degree and the recreational and competitive sides of esports,” Swanton said. “The School of Sport Science intends to be a leader in the industry with our graduates making an impact at every level of the esports ecosystem.”
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