Tampa's Esports Players Club is now open, and taking competitors for a Madden football competition

Tampa Bay gamer pros and wannabes can now enjoy a brand new hub for all things competitive and pixelated. The Esports Players Club is Tampa’s first gaming academy and tournament and opened this weekend.

The club, started by co-founder Alex Matzkin, will act as a hub for those wanting to build their skills in gaming to compete, take classes on specific games, learn content creation, perfect video editing and be immersed in the Tampa gaming scene.

In addition to educational and immersive opportunities, the club will also be offering tournament spaces for those interested in competing or viewing, game-release parties, charity drives and more.

The flagship location, at 1802 W Kennedy Dr., is a state-of-the-art 5,000-square-foot facility featuring a virtual reality zone and a “Squad Up” area dedicated to Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch console enthusiasts. Also on scene are two large classrooms, complete with 20 Alienware Aurora R12s with SteelSeries headsets, 144Hz LG Ultragear Monitors and Corsair mice and keyboard setups.

The club will operate on a membership basis and focus on class-based skill development, offering members a safe, constructive space to explore the world of gaming and digital creation. Members will be offered monthly and annual membership deals, as well as per-month classes or unlimited facility access.

Matzkin saw a lack of community for gamers in Tampa Bay, something he wanted to fill with a safe space for wannabe gamers to hone their skill and sportsmanship in one interactive environment, leading to the birth of Esports Players Club.

More information about Esports Players Club, membership packages, classes and its grand opening can be found at esportsplayersclub.com or @esportsplayersclub on Instagram.

Those interested can register for the club’s Superbowl LVI Madden tournament Feb. 12.