Team Liquid Launches New Challengers Esports Lab at the Challengers Clubhouse

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, February 23, Team Liquid and Boys & Girls Club Metro Los Angeles celebrated the launch of their esports & STEM education partnership by hosting a dedication ceremony for the opening of the new Challengers Esports Lab. The ribbon cutting ceremony featured leadership and fan-favorite talent, including Team Liquid Co-CEO Steve Arhancet, Boys & Girls Club CEO Patrick Mahoney, WNBA Champion Ariel Powers and popular Super Smash Bros. Melee progamer Juan ‘Hungrybox” Debiedma. Students were able to preview the Lab and meet Blue, Team Liquid’s mascot. 

 

The partnership, which falls under Liquid’s ongoing mission to expand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education for students in underserved communities, kicked off at Challengers Clubhouse – BGCMLA’s largest location. The center is located within an internet desert and faces the uncommonly recognized challenge of accessing affordable, high-speed internet. In addition to a suite of hardware and internet upgrades, perfect for competitive gaming and wider STEM learning activities, Team Liquid will subsidize high-speed internet at the center for three years. 

 

Additionally, the organization will introduce ongoing mentorship and experiential learning opportunities at Challengers, with the aim to raise student interest and acumen through game-based learning. This includes a 10-week, 40-hour esports course in collaboration with NxtUp Esports

 

For more information on Team Liquid and BGCMLA, please visit TL.gg and Bgcmla.org, respectively.


About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles

The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles (BGCMLA) is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Committed to sustainable impact, BGCMLA is the result of a partnership unifying Los Angeles’ Boys and Girls Clubs that have been serving youth in the region’s most vulnerable communities through our Clubhouses at Challengers, Watts/Willowbrook, and Bell Gardens. The collaboration of BGCMLA and community partners currently includes Jordan Downs Public Housing through HACLA, plus Jordan High School and Bethune Middle School through LAUSD. BGCMLA offers nationally-recognized programs in three core areas to ensure the achievement and empowerment of youth and their families: Academic Success, Good Character and Leadership, and Healthy Lifestyles. For more information, please visit our website at www.bgcmla.org. 


About Team Liquid

Team Liquid was founded in 2000 in the Netherlands and has evolved into one of the leading international multigame esports teams with training centers in Utrecht, São Paulo, Brazil and Los Angeles, California. Team Liquid has about 120 athletes competing across 15 distinct games, including all major esports titles, such as VALORANT, Rocket League, DOTA 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, Fortnite, Rainbow 6: Siege, and more. Led by Co-CEOs Steve Arhancet and Victor Goossens, Team Liquid is one of the most successful esports teams in the Western market in terms of competitive achievement and fan engagement across multiple sports. 

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