Second annual Sixty Six Games E-Sports Expo sees success

Posted on January 20, 2020
The Sixty Six Games Esports Tournament was held at Grossinger Motors Arena. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois – ABC)

By Heart of Illinois – ABC

NORMAL – The second annual Sixty Six Games Expo at the Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington brought gamers and industry leaders together.

They had League of Legends tournaments featuring 32 teams from across the country, including the nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan team.

The expo also had a retro gaming lounge, cosplay contest, and over 50 vendors selling vintage video games, collectibles, and art.

The event is one of the first and only live and in-person E-sports tournaments in Central Illinois as well as one of the few video game conventions to hold a special clinic in the region.

“We had industry experts from across the country come in and talk about e-sports programming, how to start an e-sports program at your high school possibly, or how to work in the e-sports industry things of that nature.” said Matt Hawkins with the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau who put on the event in conjunction with the Sports Commission

Hawkins said they anticipate the tournament brought in around $85,000 to the Bloomington-Normal area.

Heart of Illinois – ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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