Allied Esports, Simon To Launch Esports Venue at Mall of Georgia

Allied Esports and Simon have announced that the Mall of Georgia in Buford, GA, 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, which will have full broadcast and streaming production capabilities, will be located at The Village will serve 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 will also offer PCs and consoles for daily use, full food and beverage options, experiential retail, and more. 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.

“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,” says 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.”

Mall of Georgia, the largest shopping destination in the Southeast, features more than 200 shops, including; iconic brands Apple, Michael Kors and Coach; specialty stores Sephora, Altar’d State, Pandora, American Eagle, H&M and Palmetto Moon; and department stores Macy’s, Dillard’s, Von Maur, Belk, JCPenney and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The center is home to signature brand restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, Marlow’s Tavern, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Seasons 52 and a 750-seat Dining Pavilion offering more than a dozen delicious food and beverage options. Shoppers can also enjoy the Regal Cinema 20 & IMAX, a 20-screen, 3-D IMAX theatre.

“Allied Esports’ new esports facility is a perfect complement to the mix of shopping, dining and entertainment options at Mall of Georgia,” says General Manager John DiCioccio. “Our guests enjoy experiential offerings, and this new concept is certain to become a fast favorite among those who visit the center.”

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. Following online play and regional finals at Roosevelt Field in Garden City, N.Y., and Ontario Mills, in Ontario, Calif., thousands of participants were narrowed down to a final group of 64 players who competed head-to-head in Fortnite at the inaugural Simon Cup Grand Final at HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2019. Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Daryl “Bugzvii” John, age 20, was crowned the first Simon Cup champion and won a $50,000 shopping spree at a Simon destination.

The new location at Mall of Georgia, as well as additional future locations at Simon properties around the country, will become key components of the Simon Cup moving forward. Allied Esports and Simon will announce plans for the 2020 edition of the Simon Cup in the near future.