Plans drafted for Scotland digital arena

Article posted by Coliseum, November 20^th, 2020

Image: Abertay University

A revolutionary new 4,000 seat digital arena is being planned to come up at Dundee in Scotland which will be employed to host esports events.

Northern Lights Arena Europe (NLAE) has entered into an 18-month exclusivity agreement with Dundee City Council which will allow the company to progress initial design concepts, strategic advice and expertise.

The 4,000-seat multiuse arena could provide educational, economic, entertainment and employment opportunities for Dundee, and would house an esports academy for further and higher education alongside conventional leisure, indoor sporting events, retail and live/workspace.

It will sit near the prestigious V&A Dundee adjoining the Tay Road Bridge and will be a high point of the City landscape.

V&A Dundee is a design museum in Dundee, Scotland, which opened on September 15^th, 2018. The V&A Dundee is the first design museum in Scotland and the first Victoria and Albert Museum outside London.

Abertay University (in Dundee, Scotland) is already working in conjunction with NLAE to maximize the educational benefits of this project.

As part of the development, Abertay University plans to develop a new range of degree courses related to the global esports job market, with students gaining access to bespoke facilities within the arena complex.

The varsity’s local college partner, Dundee & Angus College, would also be part of the project, ensuring opportunities for involvement are provided for young people across the region.

Futuristic facilities and technical infrastructure for the arena and academic campus will be designed with Nottingham Trent University’s (England) Creative Technology faculty, Confetti. Technology partners including Amazon Web Services and low-carbon energy provider Vital Energi will guarantee that Dundee can boast a chic facility for the 21^st century.

Stated Professor Gregor White of Abertay University, “We are delighted to be involved in bringing forward this exciting partnership-led development for Dundee, which has the potential to make a significant contribution to the future development of Scotland’s digital economy.”

“Abertay has an international reputation for excellence in the video games sector and is ideally placed to lead the educational delivery aspects of this project, with a view to opening up a new graduate talent pipeline to the esports industry, which is worth more than $1billion globally each year,” White added.

NLAE head honcho Chris Turner remarked, “We are delighted to be able to announce Dundee as the first of several multi-million-pound projects that the NLAE team is working on. We have been impressed with the forward-looking approach of Dundee City Council and their ambition to have a world class public space at the heart of Dundee.”

“NLAE is working with global technology partners, including Amazon Web Services, to provide unparalleled facilities and experiences. NLAE is working with Vital Energi to develop and deliver a low carbon energy solution for all NLAE projects and other local customers in Dundee City Centre,” Turner added.

Mark Flynn, Convener, Dundee City Council’s City Development Committee, put in, “Agreeing to an exclusivity arrangement with NLAE is the best way forward to allow what is an exciting and potentially winning development the time and space needed to undertake feasibility studies and advance outline proposals. As a thriving and recognized cradle for games development I can think of no better place for such a complex to be.”

Simon Hewitt, Principal, Dundee & Angus College, observed, “This is an amazing opportunity for the City and the wider region to build on the fantastic educational partnerships and experiences we already provide within the creative sector. Dundee & Angus College are proud to be a partner in this exciting and innovative project that will create more opportunities to develop new and existing skills to support the growth of Scotland’s digital economy.”

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