BUFORD, Ga. — Allied Esports and Simon have announced that Mall of Georgia in Buford will be the location for the companies’ first dedicated esports venue, as part of their previously announced strategic alliance.
The two-level, 13,000-square-foot facility will be located at The Village and is slated to be a gaming and esports destination for players and community members of all levels. As part of the Allied Esports Property Network, the venue will feature regular amateur and professional esports tournaments and events across a variety of games and genres.
The location, which will have full broadcast and streaming production capabilities, will also offer PCs and consoles for daily use. The redevelopment of the current retail space is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2020, with an opening of the venue anticipated in the second half of the year. Mall of Georgia, the largest shopping destination in the Southeast, features more than 200 shops and the Regal Cinema 20 & IMAX, a 20-screen, 3-D IMAX theatre.
“We’ve long felt that the gaming and esports communities in the Southeast, especially the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, are vibrant and growing and believe we have a location at Mall of Georgia that will serve as a dynamic hub for esports experiences in the region,” said Jud Hannigan, CEO of Allied Esports. “We’re excited to launch this first-of-its-kind on-mall venue and continue to develop and expand on this new concept for additional Simon destinations.”
Allied Esports and Simon announced a strategic alliance in June 2019, in which the two companies unveiled intentions to open dedicated esports venues at Simon centers around the country and create a co-produced national amateur esports tournament – the Simon Cup – featuring online competition and in-person events at Simon destinations.
