Step into the Flight Deck
UNF Esports
The Flight Deck is now open!
Our Facility
- The Flight Deck, UNF's new, state-of-the-art Esports arena in the John A. Delaney Student Union features 42 gaming PCs and four console areas including gaming for Xbox, Playstation and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Our competition stage holds space for ten competitors against a 25 foot LED wall, 4K streaming cameras, stage lights, live game screens and 120 fps Alienware monitors.
- The Flight Deck also features a shoutcast booth outfitted with the latest in AV equipment and a full production control room.
- Our Esports arena is also located next door to the John A. Delaney Student Union auditorium which features a 40 foot LED wall, and space for 10 competition desks. The auditorium is expected to be online by Summer 2026.
- Also next door to our Arena is the Boathouse Bar & Grill which will stream our tournaments as well as the UNF Campus Bookstore.
OUR STORY
UNF Esports was founded in 2026 and we officially opened the doors of our arena, the Flight Deck, on February 27, 2026. This facility and our programming was made possible by support from the City of Jacksonville after allocating $3 million in funding for UNF.
At the heart of UNF Esports is our commitment to connecting with both our community and our students. Esports creates meaningful pathways for high school students to visit and engage on a college campus through participation in our events. These are opportunities they may not otherwise have experienced. At the same time, we connect UNF students with career pathways and hands-on experiential learning opportunities aligned with the growing esports industry.
Connection to the Jacksonville Community
Esports events draw large audiences, as shown at other public university venues and arenas. UNF Esports:
- Supports local businesses through increased economic activity
- Enhances local commerce and tourism
- Provides economic benefits through patronage and visibility
- Attracts gaming industry and related businesses to Jacksonville
- Helps UNF attract more students to meet enrollment expansion
- Boosts engagement with the UNF campus and provides higher education awareness
CAREER PATHWAYS
Esports is a rapidly trending method for engaging young students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. By bringing local high school teams to UNF's campus to compete, students have an opportunity to see themselves on a college campus, many for the very first time, and explore new pathways to careers in high-demand fields:
- Computing
- Game Design
- Software Engineering
- Public Relations
- Network Engineering
- Marketing
- Data Analytics
- Graphic Design
- Broadcasting/Journalism
- Event Planning
- Content Creating
- Esports Management
OUR EQUIPMENT
Hover over each item below to explore the technology powering the machines in the Flight Deck. Discover detailed specifications, performance features, and the high-performance components that deliver a competitive, immersive gaming experience in the arena.