Welcome to CEX 2022! Vendor space is open for business. Quick networking time.

College Esports Expo Kickoff from the CEX Team

Multiple esports experts and industry insiders explore the latest developments in esports and gaming for 2022. Take a listen. During this session, participants will gain an overview of the esports industry, identify key trends and challenges, and discuss the future of the industry and its role within the wider media ecosystem.

Live esports competitions have been held in stadiums, arenas, and convention centers around the world for the past 10 years. In Esports, the game is broadcast to an online audience while live competitions take place in live venues. We’re shifting from a culture of passive consumption to an engaged, active, and socially driven gaming experience. Many institutions do not have the budget to build a dedicated esports facility or room. Gaming center operators and esports directors discuss venue operations, infrastructure, and programming practices that define one of the fastest-growing segments of location-based entertainment as it begins to emerge on college campuses.

Gaming and esports researcher and Board Member for the Esports Research Network, Dr. Stephanie Orme, shares insights from an ERN collaborative study examining issues about the long-term survival of the esports industry. In this panel, Dr. Orme will share insights derived from workshops with academics and industry workers regarding what they saw as critical issues surrounding esports' sustainability, including health and wellness, business logic, and industry structure. This panel is designed to spark dialogue about practical measures for ensuring the longevity of esports as a career path for our students.

Clark University is no. 7 on the Times Higher Education list of the World’s Best Small Universities and houses the #2 ranked in the world Interactive Media and Game Design programs (BSDT).  Clark alumnus includes Stanley Pierre-Louis ’92, CEO and President of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Despite the school merging with Becker College and starting its esports program and classes in 2021, it is already developing an impressive track record of success in the classroom and on the screen, with 14 competitive teams (OW, LOL, Rocket, and many others), over 300 gamers, and a championship in Overwatch and LOL. Come check out the AVP of External Relations (Senior Fellow for Electronic Arts, Computer Science, and Esports), Director of Esports (Shifty), and students as they share their secrets to success.

Esports and electronic gaming have developed at breakneck speeds in recent years. While there are boundless opportunities, no one is truly served by development activities undertaken with care and forethought. The lead editor and author of "Esports Business Management," who happens to also be the Founding Chief Editor of the "Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports" talks about how we need to thoughtfully create value in education, activities, and beyond.

Inside every player, a champion is waiting to emerge. In order to identify the best players and win games, it is important to have the best coaching talent and the best training practices. These top-ranked esports coaching professionals will discuss their strategies and techniques for optimizing their competitive esports programs.

Attendees Can Take Break to Eat

While esports became one the most viewed forms of entertainment in the United States and around the world, the industry has only scratched the surface of the potential for utilizing strategic communication through Public Relations. In this distinctive panel, the College Esports Expo has gathered experts in esports-centric PR who have changed the game for the promotion of esports through acquiring earned media. This panel touches on the following: understanding the value of PR in esports; creating your own PR initiative on a budget; how to generate publicity for esports organizations; the power of media relations in esports; how to effectively manage strategic communications; the future of esports PR.

The esports ecosytem is comprised of companies from a range of diversified sectors. CEX is taking you on a mission to Thes companies  of the American companies speed date to share their future trends and new innovations coming to market. Multiple executives present their new emerging technology and demonstrate its impact on the esports market, society, and the industry

Gaming platforms create a seamless experience for tournament organizers to host grassroots tournaments and for players to compete and socialize with their competitors. Social technology helps support gaming communities and provides added value to the competitive gaming environment. Take a look at some of the companies leading the race and bringing competitive and community technology to campuses worldwide. 

Dr. David Hedlund, Chairperson of the Division of Sport Management and Associate Professor at St. John's University, and Editor for Esports Business Management textbook dives into the frameworks reshaping classrooms across the globe. David will host a live Q&A and provide an overview of the industry-leading esports curriculum he coauthored with 45 esports educators and professionals. Participants interested in learning how to develop esports curriculums should attend

Half hour break to network.

The Voice of Intercollegiate Esports (VOICE) is a nonprofit member organization for colleges and universities with or planning for collegiate esports initiatives. Ther mission of the company is to shape the future of higher education by building an inclusive, sustainable, competitive collegiate esports ecosystem and creating a united voice for colleges and universities. Founder Kurt Melcher, shares his mission to advocate for higher education to publishers, providing on-boarding and training for those new to the space and help programs become more diverse and equitable in this presentation,

The value of esports in education lies in its relevance to students and ability to meet them where they are. For educators to effectively use gaming as a learning tool, it is essential to understand best practices, techniques, and learning objectives. Join us for an open discussion on esports education, led by a group of leading collegiate esports educators

New titles are launching leagues as publishers ramp up their efforts to define their collegiate strategies. Since Covid, the competitive landscape has changed dramatically with the emergence of new alliances and conferences. Executives from these companies discuss the state of their competitive programs and how they see the opportunities and challenges for 2022.

Video games are often associated with unhealthy snack foods and soft drinks. Mental health is one of the most valuable aspects of human health, and playing video games can take a toll on your mental well-being. Every year at CEX, we strive to bring you the latest and greatest minds working towards tackling one of the most overlooked challenges in esports, health and wellness. This year its Hector Melendez, CSCS from Road to Strength Training. Hector’s philosophy is rooted in increasing human performance while reducing the risk of injury and helping clients stay healthy while progressing you closer to your goals. The way he achieves this is by creating an effective program to make efficiencies in your everyday movement and patterns. Come  the importance and best practices of mental performance and conditioning for esports.

In many universities, competitive intercollegiate teams compete in dozens of different video game titles through esport sclubs and associations, usually run by undergraduate student committees responsible for overseeing hundreds of students. During the Covid lockdown in March of 2020, student-run esports orgs closed down and began operating remotely. Students in senior leadership positions faced considerable challenges in passing on the torch and training new first- and second-year students to take over after graduation. In the absence of collaborative oversight, managing esports clubs and organizations has left many programs in disarray, and some programs have been ruled ineligible. Executives and student leaders programs share stories and best practices about life after lockdown, overcoming management transitions and stepping into post-covid leadership roles.  

Coaches and program managers convene for Q&A and networking.

The Coalition of Parents in Esports (COPE) aims to support skill development, child safety, wellness, education, and career needs for families involved in gaming. COPE is on a mission to provide better information, resources, and support to gamers and their families, bringing a badly needed perspective to the CEX audience. Come hear from the founders and gain some thought-provoking insight 

The ultimate end-of-day networking forum for administrators, educators, students, and esports industry executives. 

​

Executives review the present state of competitive programs and their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of operating in 2020. 

Join us to talk about how technology is improving player performance.

Conference chairs make final acknowledgements and close out CEX 2020.