When Cleveland State University unveiled its CSU 2.0 plan in March of 2021, some of the athletic department’s goals were to help grow enrollment, generate school spirit and «differentiate CSU as a beacon institution in Northeast Ohio and beyond.»
Enter esports.
The Vikings launched the city’s first varsity intercollegiate esports program, one that will operate under the athletic department’s umbrella when it begins play in 2022-23. CSU will compete as a member of the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC), which includes several other Ohio schools, including Ashland, Bowling Green and Mount Union.
P.J. Farrell, who founded and directed the national championship-winning program at Holy Name High School in Parma, will be CSU’s first director of esports.
«We are incredibly bullish on the future of esports as a way to recruit new students to CSU and to help create positive stories to share with the community,» Vikings athletic director Scott Garrett said in a news release. «We look forward to supporting CSU varsity esports within the athletics department framework of services and to leaning on a number of campus partners to position it for long-term success.»
CSU will initially look to sponsor varsity squads for League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch and Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. The school said will consider expanding into other titles in the near future.
Team tryouts will be held in late July or early August.
«Cleveland State has always felt like home to me and it is my privilege to be able to give something back to the Cleveland community,» Farrell said. «Esports at Cleveland State will allow students to not only compete in something that they love, but also something that they can study and can make a career out of.»
The University of Akron unveiled a new logo earlier this week, a modern, stylized «A» that subtly includes a «Z» shape at the top in honor of the Zips mascot.
Athletic director Charles Guthrie said the goal was to streamline the university’s athletic branding, «which had become a jumble of no fewer than eight logos.»
The name Zips and the mascot, Zippy, will continue to be prominently represented for UA and UA Athletics, the school said.
Athletic director Charles Guthrie said the goal was to streamline the university’s athletic branding, «which had become a jumble of no fewer than eight logos.»
Joe Bosack & Co., an experienced sports design consultancy, designed the new primary logo, word marks, and uniform and facility applications. The design process took eight months and included focus group discussions with «numerous constituencies representing the full breadth of the university community,» the school said.
The logo release was timed to arrive before the school replaces the turf at InfoCision Field. Also, the school will begin changing its uniforms to reflect the Nike sponsorship it signed in 2021.
«Starting that process now, in coordination with the field turf replacement, was particularly advantageous,» Guthrie said.
The logo will begin to appear immediately across all platforms, channels and facilities, UA said, including uniforms, fields of play, signage, fan experience (e-commerce, apparel and products) and on digital and social media platforms.
Sign up for free email news alerts and stay connected to important business news straight to your inbox. Click below to see everything we have to offer.
Don't miss the chance to get the biggest news first! Stay connected to Northeast Ohio business news in print and online
Our Mission
For 40 years, Crain’s Cleveland Business has been the trusted source for business news and information for Northeast Ohio’s top executives and business owners.
700 W. St. Clair
Suite 310
Cleveland, OH 44113
216-522-1383
Email
Staff Directory
Crain jobs
