Alex Matzkin knows the importance of having a solid coaching team for sports — he played football at Tampa-based Berkeley Preparatory School before heading to Georgetown University. <br> "[My brother and I] both played football in high school and college and there was a clear path — we created gameplay video with coaches and they sent it to colleges," said Matzkin, the CEO and co-founder of the Esports Players Club. "There is nothing like that for esports yet. We want to help the kids earn scholarships and go on to play in college or even become a streamer. It's giving them a better base they would've had themselves." <br> That teaching and coaching will bleed into the classroom, which is a large portion of the 5,000-square-foot space slated to officially open in Tampa this weekend. The <a href="https://www.esportsplayersclub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Esports Players Club</a> will offer two classes per day to start, with the rest of the space serving as an esports arena where students can hone their gaming skills and play in a competitive format. <br> "We want to help these kids develop actual, true-life skills and be able to gain a healthier social environment at the same time," Matzkin said. <br> The center is open to all ages, although children 10 and under need to be accompanied by a parent. It works off a membership format, which is $149.99 a month and covers eight classes, tournament entries or a mixture of both. The classes will run the gamut beyond actual esports — graphic design, cryptocurrency with a focus on blockchain and video editing are all on the table. <br> "They're such valuable skills, even as a secondary skill," Matzkin said. "It makes students so much more valuable [to employers] having that in your back pocket. It's just a valuable skill kids can learn and take on very early and can have that much more experience in it." <br> There is no cap on the number of students the center can hold at the moment, and Matzkin's next goal is to work with nearby schools and universities to foster competitions and a community. It's advantageously placed on Kennedy Boulevard, near the University of Tampa and schools like Tampa Preparatory School. <br> "[The other schools] have set up makeshift practice facilities, and we designed this as a place to come hang out," he said. "It looks cool, has anything gamers would want and will give the audience the chance to use a practice facility and tournament venue." <br> The Esports Players Club joins a growing list of esports backers in the Tampa Bay region. In March 2021, Pasco County-based Saint Leo University <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/03/11/saint-leo-esports-arena-team.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched an esports arena</a>, with Lakeland-based Florida Southern College <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/05/13/florida-southern-college-new-esports-arena.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following suit</a> in May. In September, the University of South Florida <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/09/22/usf-set-to-launch-new-esports-arena.html#:~:text=USF%20expects%20new%20esports%20space,just%20gaming%20opportunities%20for%20students&text=The%20University%20of%20South%20Florida,go%20far%20beyond%20competitive%20gaming." target="_blank" rel="noopener">converted a space</a> on its Tampa campus to boost esports gaming and that same month, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2021/09/07/tampa-bay-buccaneers-esports.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered with</a> publicly traded Esports Entertainment Group. <br> "Having guys like [Tampa Bay Lightning owner] <a href="https://bizjournals.com/tampabay/search/results?q=Jeff Vinik" class="article-content-item">Jeff Vinik</a> in town is part of the reason we wanted to do it here," said Matzkin, who has lived in the area since he was 4. "He started the esports program at USF and having someone like that is important. And Tampa is in an explosion right now; it's propped to be the tech hub of the Southeast, and if that's the case we're in a great spot." <br>Want to stay ahead of who & what is next? Sent twice-a-week, the Beat is your definitive look at Tampa Bay’s innovation economy, offering news, analysis & more on the people, companies & ideas driving your region forward.<br><br><a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/inno/stories/profiles/2022/02/03/berkeley-prep-grad-launches-esports-arena-in-tampa.html">source</a>
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