The University of Texas at Dallas’ esports and gaming center, Comets LANding, earned national recognition after being named a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Facilities Award by the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, or NIRSA, in January.
The award recognizes Comets LANding’s innovative design and its role in expanding recreational and social spaces for students, reflecting an increasing interest in esports across college campuses.
“Winning facilities are considered a standard by which other collegiate recreational facilities should be measured, and from which others can benefit,” the NIRSA website said.
The 16,000-square-foot facility opened in January 2025. Senior Director for the Student Union and Student Union Programs Dan Goodwin said that administrators recognized a need for a dedicated gaming space, as many students who tried out for the varsity esports team were not selected in past years. He said strong student interest in gaming, combined with an underutilized on-campus pub space, created an opportunity to develop the facility.
A total of 6,700 unique students used the facility this past year, logging a collective 5 million hours of gameplay, according to Goodwin.
Goodwin said the facility also challenges common misconceptions about gamers.
“There are common stereotypes that people who spend time playing video games are lazy or closed off. This validates gaming and esports as a recreational pursuit that our students are using to connect with one another,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin said the facility’s design was intended to bring a sense of community among its users. He said the layout avoids closed-off spaces and incorporates natural light to create a more open, welcoming environment for students.
Vice President for Student Affairs Gene Fitch expressed a similar goal.
“The whole idea was to get people out of their rooms and create a space where they could feel comfortable,” Fitch said. “It’s about getting out and socializing and being with other people. Even if you’re not a gamer, there are lounge spaces so people can hang out and study.”
Nico Torres, president of UTD’s Call of Duty team, said the facility represents recognition and support for student gamers.
“For the longest time, people never really took esports seriously,” Torres said. “We’ve always been a nerdy, technologically advanced school, and I think the esports center is something that further embeds us into that culture, and it’s something we should lean into.”
Torres said gaming has a broader social impact.
“I think people should respect esports because of the online and offline spaces that it brings to students. UT Dallas struggles to be more social, but I think gaming, for me, has helped me build my relationship with my brother, friends and community.”
UTD will be formally recognized at the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA World Conference and Expo from April 7-10 in National Harbor, Maryland.
