He and his childhood friend Tyler Endres had fond memories of attending LAN parties and small-scale video game competitions while growing up, but were disappointed by the existing venues for such events as adults.

Paul Ward and Tyler Endres, who are both 29, met in middle school playing basketball, and later attended nearby Azusa Pacific University together, but are gamers at heart.

[2] In order to afford a 10-year lease on the building, Ward and Erdes received a Small Business Administration loan, checks from friends and family, and an anonymous large investment.

[3] The space they built — much of it by hand, laying carpet and running heavy-duty internet infrastructure themselves — is relatively spartan, with concrete floors and few fixed objects.

Technology companies Corsair, Eizo and CyberPowerPC sponsored the gaming equipment, which included 130 computer stations and 64 Xbox consoles when the building was opened.

[9] Esports Arena Orange County has hosted various major tournaments, including the finals of the 2015 Vainglory (video game) season[10] and SoCal Regionals 2016.

[12] The Santa Ana facility has hosted live tournaments in titles such as Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. and Blizzard Entertainment's Heroes of the Storm.