True Gamers unveils plans for $1bn esports island in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, 25 days ago
Gaming lounge operator True Gamers has unveiled plans to build Abu Dhabi's first esports island within Al Raha Beach area at an estimated cost of $1 billion, reported The National.
A first-of-its-kind project globally, it will boast a luxury hotel, hi-tech venues for gaming tournaments and other key amenities.
The proposed spot is at the heart of one of the city's quickly growing neighbourhoods, facing Yas Island on one side and Raha Beach’s housing developments on the other, stated the report, citing a top official.
"One possible location for the esports Island project is between Al Bandar and Al Dana developments in Al Raha Beach," stated True Gamers co-founder Vlad Belyanin.
The company, said Belyanin, is in talks with 'high-profile investors' to raise the full funds needed to acquire the island and build the facilities.
"It could cost an estimated $1 billion with True Gamers committing between $280 million and $300 million," he added.
A hotel is also being planned for the island, called GG Resort, with 200 rooms, each equipped with gaming PCs. A “parachute jump check-in” inspired by popular battle royale game PUBG is also planned, said The National report.
If built, the island’s sections would include one area called The Digital Tower, a hub with spaces for meetings, start-up accelerators and animation studios. TG Arena would feature spaces for esports tournaments as well as a computer club with around 100 PCs, a simulation racing section and a space for console gaming, it stated.
There would also be a bootcamp section that is “akin to American collegiate fraternities”, the company says, with accommodation built with input from esports team managers from around the world.
CEO and Co-founder Anton Vasilenko said: “True Gamers had conducted a comprehensive market analysis of the Mena region’s esports landscape and the global esports industry’s growth trajectory before esports Island development."
“This in-depth analysis gives us the confidence that the proposed business model will be instrumental in bringing esports Island to life," he added.
