Texas
‘Dallas loves gaming’: Esports take center stage in North Texas to kick off the summer
It was a giant weekend for esports as tens of 1000’s descended upon the DFW space for the DreamHack gaming pageant and an enormous Overwatch match.
DALLAS — For years, North Texas has confirmed it is turning into a hub for esports and video video games — and never only for the U.S. The realm is actually garnering worldwide consideration.
If extra proof is required, look no farther than this weekend.
Not one, however two main gaming occasions have been held within the Dallas-Fort Value Metroplex this weekend, which drew tens of 1000’s of followers to the realm to rejoice esports.
DreamHack
DreamHack, a global gaming model that holds festivals around the globe, had its occasion in Dallas for the primary time in three years, and the thrill over the return of enormous, in-person occasions was evident this weekend.
Crowds packed the Kay Bailey Hutchison Heart, as followers had many choices on their gaming plates similar to dwell aggressive matches and rows of tables crammed with consoles and PCs for attendees to play in opposition to each other.
Organizers instructed WFAA that the occasion noticed greater than 33,000 attendees from 50 states and 29 international locations over three days.
Championship matches of widespread video video games Rocket League and Counter-Strike: International Offensive have been featured on the conference, and followers have been in a position to cheer on their favourite groups.
Schools from North America and Europe took half in a Rocket League championship match at DreamHack. DFW was represented by the College of Texas at Arlington esports staff.
With a model that is so internationally identified and has hosted its fundamental occasions in Sweden and different international locations, what introduced DreamHack to Dallas? Shahin Zarrabi, vice chairman of technique and development for DreamHack, instructed WFAA that North Texas was simply the correct match.
“Dallas loves gaming. So many avid gamers right here, esports groups, organizations. We got here right here in 2019 for our first occasion in Dallas, coming from Austin earlier than,” Zarrabi stated. “Dallas has proven us a lot love, so it was a given for us to return again right here.”
After having to navigate via the COVID-19 pandemic and having to cancel 2020 and 2021 occasions, Zarrabi stated he is glad DreamHack is again in Dallas and that it is turning into one thing extra than simply an esports occasion.
“We need to create a platform for everybody to return and join, to discover, to be themselves. Every part gaming below one roof. That doesn’t imply you must sit and play or watch another person play,” Zarrabi instructed WFAA. “It might be that you just gown up as somebody in a online game… or that you just meet your favourite creators from on-line.”
“We need to create that platform, that enviornment, for individuals to return and simply be who they’re and comply with their ardour,” he added.
And naturally, the town of Dallas can be seeing the rewards from the massive gaming pageant.
In line with Zarrabi, the 2019 occasion in Dallas generated about $3.6 million for the town.
“I hope Dallas loves us as a lot as we love them,” he stated.
Overwatch League Kickoff Conflict
And, about 20 minutes to the west of the Dallas conference heart, one other main esports occasion was taking place on the identical time.
Overwatch, a well-liked first-person shooter, was on the heart of this occasion as the sport’s esports league held a $225,000 match — the Overwatch League Kickoff Conflict — at Esports Stadium Arlington.
The Dallas Gas, a staff owned by Dallas-based group Envy Gaming, was the host metropolis, as skilled groups from across the nation and 1000’s of followers descended upon North Texas. This weekend’s match was the primary main in-person occasion of 2022 for the Overwatch League.
Geoff Moore, president of Envy Gaming, instructed WFAA that occasions like this are proof that the North Texas space is turning into an enormous esports hub.
“It brings lots of people who love [Overwatch] in from outdoors the state of Texas, from different cities in Texas to Arlington and the Dallas-Fort Value space,” Moore stated. “It truly is fulfilling the imaginative and prescient that the town of Arlington had once they invested in creating this venue that they’d carry individuals from everywhere in the nation and even different international locations to occasions like this based mostly on what these individuals actually have a pent up demand to see dwell and share with one another.”
Organizers instructed WFAA over 4,000 followers attended the four-day occasion.
Again in March, Esports Stadium Arlington additionally hosted the primary main 2022 occasion for the Name of Responsibility League, the place 1000’s cheered from a sold-out crowd. Dallas’ personal OpTic Texas, which is part of Envy Gaming, took house the grand prize in that occasion.
Organizers instructed WFAA about 75% of ticket consumers for that occasion have been from outdoors the DFW space.
On Friday night, two of college football’s iconic programs will meet with a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on the line.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Texas Longhorns have their fingerprints all over the sport’s history yet somehow have squared off only three times.
A Fiesta Bowl meeting after the 2008 season. A home-and-home series in 2005 and 2006. That’s all the history the Buckeyes and Longhorns share on the gridiron — until they take the field in the CFP Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday.
Here’s how each of those three matchups played out.
Jan. 5, 2009: Texas 24, Ohio State 21
Although the 2009 Fiesta Bowl experienced a low-scoring first 30 minutes (the Buckeyes led 6-3 at halftime), the fourth quarter offered an ending to remember.
First, Ohio State roared back into the lead with 17 unanswered points after entering the final period trailing 17-6. With just two minutes to respond, Texas put together an impressive 11-play drive that culminated in quarterback Colt McCoy finding wide receiver Quan Cosby for the winning touchdown with 16 seconds remaining.
The McCoy and Cosby connection dominated all game, with the pair linking up 14 times for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Sept. 9, 2006: Ohio State 24, Texas 7
McCoy’s first encounter with Ohio State wasn’t as pleasant as the Fiesta Bowl.
In a battle of the then-No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the land, it was the top-ranked Buckeyes who made an early-season statement against the defending national champion Longhorns on the road in Austin. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy that season, threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns as the Buckeyes scored in all four quarters of the win.
Sept. 10, 2005: Texas 25, Ohio State 22
The first meeting between the Longhorns and Buckeyes came with nearly the same high billing as the 2006 contest, with the two squads squaring off as the No. 2 and No. 4 teams in the country, respectively.
As in 2006, it was the higher-ranked visiting side that came out on top, although the game itself proved to be much closer. Texas jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, but Ohio State battled back and eventually entered halftime, and then the fourth quarter, ahead.
Said final quarter, however, belonged to the Longhorns. Quarterback Vince Young’s 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Limas Sweed proved to be the winner, with Texas adding some insurance in the game’s final moments with a safety-inducing sack of Troy Smith in the end zone.
The top-five win was the Longhorns’ first major statement in a campaign that would end with a national championship.
NORTH TEXAS – This week’s snow event will end with a “few flurries” during Friday’s morning commute, according to CBS News Texas meteorologist Jeff Ray.
“But roads will have frozen over,” Ray said.
Expect hazardous road conditions in the morning, as it will be “the worst” the roads have been since the event started on Thursday morning, Ray said.
Late in the morning, temperatures will rise above freezing, which will “help drivers get around the Metroplex,” Ray said.
A cold front is expected Friday, he said.
“We are going to have wind chills in the 20s all day,” Ray said. “By nightfall on Friday, temperatures will drop quickly and water will re-freeze on the roads across the evening. This ice will remain until mid-morning on Saturday before the sun and warmer temperatures in the mid-40s clear the roadways.”
CBS News Texas will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
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