Seattle’s Best Esports Venues
Esports—organized, competitive video gaming—is attracting more and more fans. Here’s where to catch or play a game in Seattle, and what to expect
By Beau Iverson April 23, 2019
This article originally appeared in the May 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the May 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.
Northwest Esports (SoDo, 1941 First Ave. S; 206.429.5464), a gaming organization operated “by gamers, for gamers,” has been the Emerald City’s grassroots esports organizer for more than a decade, hosting competitive tournaments of all kinds—from Rocket League to Super Smash Brothers—around the area. Its SoDo headquarters, which opened in 2017, now offers additional, dedicated space for private meetups and game broadcasts.
GameWorks (Downtown, 1511 Seventh Ave.; 206.521.0952), a super arcade, recently converted its second floor into an esports lounge. The venue features 60 high-end fixed gaming stations for walk-ins, group reservations, gaming leagues and tournaments.
The Husky Union Building Esports Arena & Gaming Lounge (University District, 4001 E Stevens Way; 206.543.8191). At press time, this new, 1,000-square-foot esports arena in the basement of the University of Washington’s student center was scheduled to open on April 1. The community gaming center and lounge is open to the public (with reduced rates for students), offering virtual reality and live-streaming systems to welcome casual players and create esports networking opportunities.
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