For two years, Idaho State University’s esports players practiced in a cramped, dark basement room under the Student Union. Two guys at a time, maybe four if they sat apart. On Tuesday, September 29, they walked into something very different.
That afternoon the university cut the ribbon on its new Direct Communications Esports Arena in Pocatello, paid for by a $520,000 gift from the telecom company of the same name. President Robert Wagner did the unveiling and thanked company president Tim May on the spot, saying the gift “made this dream a reality” and handed the players “a world-class platform to learn, to compete, and to win.” He also claimed the new space “puts Idaho State University esports on the map in the Big Sky, in the country and in the world.”
What the money bought
The room holds more than 30 computer setups, plus a lounge-style corner with an Xbox Series X, a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation 5. A broadcast setup sits at one end. Live games are scheduled Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., and visitors can pull up a chair to watch and hear the announcers, Scooter McLane and Triston Van Wyk, call the play.
Daniel Sheldon, the broadcast coordinator, rates the production highly. “It’s not an exaggeration to say [we have] one of the best broadcasts for Esports within the northwest at the very least,” he said, adding that ISU is now neck and neck with Boise State, which has done this for years.
The players noticed the upgrade straight away. “The brand new computers are really good, we have better monitors now and better headphones,” said athlete Elliott Fleener. Abir Atar, who captains the Smash Bros Ultimate squad, said the old setup limited practice to a couple of people at once. Now the whole squad fits, and they can rewatch a play from two minutes ago. “It’s provided a noticeable improvement,” he said.
A program that outgrew its room
ISU Esports was founded in 2024 and competes in the Big Sky Conference, which has 10 other teams in the field. It began with three varsity teams, in Overwatch, Rocket League and Valorant, and now fields five, after Smash Bros and Call of Duty squads joined. Head coach Charles Johnston said planning for the arena started about 18 months ago. For months the space stayed hidden behind cardboard, and Sheldon said he was relieved that people can finally see it.
Students outside the varsity squads will get a turn too. Open Play hours, where any student can try the gaming systems, are due to begin in 2027.
The university is also bidding for the right to stage the Big Sky Championship. Wagner said the arena should help recruit strong esports students and “bring the community together.” Direct Communications is not new to the campus: in 2025 the company also funded improvements at Miller Ranch Stadium, where the Lady Bengals play softball.
Sources
- Idaho State University Unveils state-of-the-art Esports Arena (KIFI / LocalNews8)
- ISU unveils brand new esports arena (EastIdahoNews.com, Logan Ramsey)
