Lenovo Investment Advances NC State's Esports Program, Recognized with Arena and Gaming Lab Naming
The contribution supports NC State's and Lenovo's shared focus on innovation, research and student development while strengthening esports at the university.

April 2, 2026 Lisa Hall 5-min. read
Chancellor Kevin Howell and Lenovo's Ryan McCurdy.
Chancellor Kevin Howell (l) and Lenovo's Ryan McCurdy celebrate the esports gift. Photo by Marc Hall, NC State University.
Game on: A naming-level gift from technology giant Lenovo will bolster the growing momentum and profile of NC State's program in esports.

Lenovo's transformational commitment includes substantial financial support for both an endowment and a current-use fund targeting NC State Esports programming, staffing, equipment or other needs. There also is an in-kind component to the gift, with the company building a custom large-scale server as well as donating key hardware for the new Lenovo Esports Arena.

These investments reflect Lenovo's commitment to innovation, research and talent development in North Carolina, company officials said.

Under construction in Mann Hall on NC State's central campus, the immersive 5,000-square-foot arena will be one of the nation's largest collegiate esports facilities and is due to be completed in 2027.

The arena is part of a public-private collaboration, with the university receiving $12 million from the state of North Carolina to develop and construct the facility that will support research and education as well as competition.

https://news.ncsu.edu/2026/04/lenovo-names-esports-arena-gaming-lab/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ncstate&utm_campaign=socialhub&utm_term=6cda09d6-88ea-416d-938e-ce65f095bb9d