New esports hubs open at Aurora recreation centers
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AURORA, Colo. — Two esports hubs opened inside Aurora recreation centers this week, offering communal gaming spaces for kids. The hubs, located in the Central and Southeast recreation centers, feature professional gaming computers, PlayStations, Nintendo Switches and more.
Kids aged 7 to 17 can use the spaces without an adult, while those 6 and younger need supervision to use the amenities.
Hub access is included with a recreation center membership or day pass. Visitors without a pass can also pay a $5 drop-in fee, and Aurora offers free admission via the We Are Aurora Youth, a city program that opens rec centers to teens during school breaks. The centers are also available for birthday party rentals.
The new hubs are among the first official esports locations in the state, joining Aurora’s Expo Community Center lounge, as well as locations in Lone Tree, CU Boulder and CSU.
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) sanctioned esports as an official activity in 2022, and the sport has seen exponential growth since. Locally, the Cherry Creek League of Legends esports team won the esports state championship in 2025, adding to their two previous state titles.
“There’s definitely an assumption that video games equal brain rot, and I think centers like this can help destigmatize that,” said Troy Johnan, a supervisor at Aurora Parks and Recreation who oversees the city’s esports program.
“People don’t realize that kids are getting scholarships and sponsorship deals in the millions of dollars for esports now.”
Johnan played competitive sports as a kid until he underwent multiple orthopedic surgeries, taking him off the field. Through this experience, Johnan recognized the accessibility factor of gaming.
“Esports builds communication and teamwork in different ways and can feel a little more accessible to kids who might not be comfortable or able to play a game of basketball or soccer,” Johnan said.
The new hubs include options for those with low motor function or intellectual disabilities. The center also allows kids to interact with games they don’t typically use.
Four-year-old Kingston took in the wonders of Pac-Man for the first time during Monday’s grand opening at the Central location. However, it didn’t take him long to feel the fundamental frustration that comes with playing the beloved arcade game.
“He’s so used to the instant gratification of the newer games, I think the slow pace of Pac-Man is really throwing him for a loop,” said Kingston’s mother, Tina Hong, laughing at her son’s cries of frustration as another ghost gobbled up Pac-Man. “It’s good for him to play with old-school games.”
Another benefit of esports? A direct pipeline to STEM careers. Johnan runs programs like a Minecraft engineering camp, where kids use the popular video game to learn basic math and engineering skills.
“It’s really fun watching the kids work together to solve these engineering-based problems using a game that they know and love,” Johnan said. “I expect we’ll be seeing an even bigger esports presence in the future. This sport just keeps on growing.”
See below for hours of operation at both the Central and Southeast centers:
Monday-Friday: Noon-6 p.m.; Saturday: 4-7 p.m.
Monday-Friday: 3:30-7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 4-7 p.m.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.