RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Local tourism officials, businesses, and universities are taking part in the Esports Travel Summit in Raleigh as they look to draw future events to the state.

“People are here. So, (it’s) one thing to hear about it, read about it, even see videos, but actually physically coming in and seeing what they’re able to offer and all the great things that we have here, how nice of an area it actually is,” said Caleb Smith, co-founder of North Carolina Esports Academy in Cary.

A report by PLAYHRDR Advisors, the Greater Raleigh Esports Organizing Committee and students from the Niner Esports program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte listed Raleigh as a “Top 5 Major Esports Event Host Destination between 2021 and 2023.”

“Raleigh as a destination is just amazing. The team is so involved and dedicated to Esports and this is the state-of-the-art. We would love to see this across the US with all the governments and cities involved as much as Raleigh is. We are hoping to find more opportunities in the future to bring more events to Raleigh,” said Jascha Braeker, a Hospitality Manager with ESL FACEIT Group.

Previous Esports events at PNC Arena and the Raleigh Convention Center have generated millions in economic impact, including hotel books, restaurant, and retail sales. The growing presence has also been felt at the university level, with NC State utilizing a $16 million grant from the state to expand its operations.

“We are in the process of developing an Esports arena that will be opening up in a couple of years in Raleigh,” said Cody Elsen, NC State’s Esports Program Director.

Currently, it’s treated as an extracurricular activity.

“We have over 1,000 students that are involved in Esports at NC State right now in the club, but we will definitely do varsity competitive teams at some point with structure, coaching, staff, resources,” said Elsen.

Elsen explained they are working to bring events to campus, noting possible locations include Reynolds Coliseum and Hunt Library.

“A lot of the science, technology, engineering and math goes into this. Tons of analytic work, analyzing things within the game and out of the game. Then obviously it’s digital, like the marketing side, the business management,” said Elsen.

The establishment of such programs is a consideration for students at community colleges looking at furthering their education.

“I teach them soft skills that are leadership, time management, decision making under duress,” added Tu Nguyen, the Esports Coach at Guilford Technical Community College “It is 100% a question for every student-athlete I have. They will immediately ask, ‘Are there any staff-led or coach-led situations in North Carolina?’”

Drawing events to the region has also allowed students hands-on networking opportunities while allowing them to gain experience.

“What really appeals to me about being this close to Raleigh is that they can come here and there are often volunteer opportunities,” said Dwayne Meekins, the Esports Coordinator at North Carolina A&T University.

On Friday, the North Carolina Esports Summit will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, with NC Varsity Esports + STEM League High School Championship held Saturday and Sunday.

Preparing for their second season in the American Athletic Conference, the North Texas picked up a late commitment to bolster their defensive line group.

6’4″ 249-pound Terrell Dawkins announced his commitment to North Texas on X Thursday after spending the last two seasons in the SEC with the South Carolina Gamecocks. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

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2024 will mark Dawkins’ sixth season of college football. He spent 2019, 2020, and 2021 at NC State and then transferred to Columbia for 2022 and 2023. Over the course of the previous five seasons, he has appeared in 35 games with six starts. His most productive season came in 2020 when he totaled 36 tackles with nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

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Following that 2020 season, Dawkins struggled to return to form, dealing with the effects of multiple lower body injuries. The North Carolina native’s career tackle total is 45.

North Texas are slated to being the 2024 campaign at South Alabama on August 31 after a 5-7 record last season.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina politicians and lawmakers are responding after Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 counts in a criminal trial on Thursday in New York City.

The trial marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges. The charges were all related to a 2016 hush money payment Trump made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

North Carolina Congressman Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, said in a statement he was “glad to finally have some honesty” with regard to Trump.

“Here’s the thing: The American people have been lied to enough by the former President. It’s no wonder that trust in government is at an all-time low,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel. “I’m glad to finally have some honesty and truth from this verdict so that our country can begin to heal from President Trump’s divisive rhetoric and extremism. Donald Trump should never be in a position of power again.”

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On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Thom Tillis wrote on social media that he was shocked by the jury’s verdict, and said he felt the trial was politically motivated.

“I am shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter.”

Tillis’ shock was also met by NCGOP Chairman Jason SImmons who wrote :

“The lawfare perpetrated by far-left Democrats, from President Biden down to the Manhattan DA, has reached its inevitable sad conclusion. Today’s sham verdict is a stain on the rule of law and a grotesque attack on President Trump, his family, & all citizens who value due process.”

Congressman Don Davis, who represents North Carolina’s 1st district, also released a statement in response to the jury’s verdict.

“Our country operates under the rule of law. The jury, with the most intimate knowledge of the case, has delivered its verdict, and former President Donald Trump now has the right to seek an appeal.”

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who was formally endorsed by Trump during a rally in Greensboro, said the trial is being used by Democrats as a way to weaponize the government against the former president, and called it a “sham.”

“The Democrats know they can’t beat President Trump at the polls so they weaponize our government against him. The voters should decide this election and I believe we will reject this sham trial by putting President Donald Trump back in office this November.”

This is a developing story.