MILWAUKEE’S WEATHER LEADER. THERE’S A NEW SPORTS ARENA. TURNING HEADS AT ELKHORN AREA HIGH SCHOOL. THE SPACE DEDICATED TO ONLINE COMPETITION. 12 NEWS MALLORY ANDERSON TAKES US INSIDE THE ELK’S ESPORTS ARENA, WHERE THE INVESTMENT OFFERS STUDENTS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ATHLETICS. TWO ONE GO PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AT SCHOOL USED TO BE FOLLOWED UP WITH A PUNISHMENT. NOW, HIGH SCHOOLS LIKE ELKHORN ARE CREATING ESPORTS ARENAS FOR FULLY SANCTIONED COMPETITION TEAMS. ESPORTS HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS HERE. IT’S BEEN WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST 15 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO HAVE A FORMALIZED ESPORTS TEAM. WE’VE SEEN A NUMBER OF STUDENTS GET COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO PLAY AT THE NEXT LEVEL. ELKHORN HIGH SCHOOLERS COMPETE IN GAMES LIKE ROCKET LEAGUE, MARIO KART, AND LEAGUE OF LEGENDS. THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN ARENA, TOTALLY DECKED OUT IN HIGH TECH AND FANCY INTERIOR DESIGN. A DONATION FROM ELKHORN BASED FURNITURE COMPANIES PALMER, HAMILTON AND RESPAWN. I THINK WHAT WE DID HERE IS CERTAINLY AN EXAMPLE OF CREATING A VERY IMMERSIVE SPACE WHEN THEY’RE WALKING IN THE DOOR THERE. THEIR WHOLE ATTITUDE CAN TRANSFORM AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN YOUR OWN LITTLE MICROCOSM. HERE AT THE SCHOOL, REALLY FOCUSED AND ENGAGED BOTH ON THE CASUAL PLAY AND THE COMPETITIVE PLAY LEVEL. ATTENTION TO DETAIL BY RESPAWN AND PALMER. HAMILTON IS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE NEW ARENA, FROM THE SPECIALIZED LIGHTS ON THE WALLS ALL THE WAY TO THE ELKHORN EMBLEMS ON THE BACK OF THE GAMING CHAIRS. IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE SEEING IT ALL JUST FINALLY UNVEILED. ANGEL IVANOV IS A SENIOR ON THE ESPORTS TEAM. HE TRANSFERRED TO ELKHORN AS A SOPHOMORE AND INSTANTLY FOUND FRIENDS THANKS TO ESPORTS. I’VE MET SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS NOW THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THAT INCLUSIVITY IS A MAJOR REASON WHY ESPORTS TEAMS ARE GROWING IN SCHOOLS ACROSS WISCONSIN. THE STUDENTS FIND A PLACE TO BELONG, AND I’VE GOT A FEW FEEL GOOD EMAILS THAT I HAVE SAVED AWAY FROM DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS TO WHERE, LIKE, THANK YOU. THEY NOW HAVE A CLOSE GROUP OF FRIENDS. THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS. AND TO ME, THAT THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU REALLY GOT TO PLAY LIKE THIS IN FRONT OF THE NEWS. THE REPUTATION IS ON THE GROUND IN ELKHORN, MALLORY ANDERSON. WISN 12 NEWS. THE ELKHORN ESPORTS ARENA WILL ALSO SERVE AS A CLASSROOM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES, HELPING STUDENTS
Elkorn Area High School unveils new esports arena
There’s a new sports arena turning heads at Elkhorn Area High School that’s dedicated to online competition
Updated: 6:26 PM CST Mar 6, 2025
There’s a new sports arena turning heads at Elkhorn Area High School that’s dedicated to online competition. The Elk’s new Esports Arena is an investment offering students an alternative to athletics.Playing video games at school used to be followed up with a punishment, now high schools like Elkhorn are creating esports arenas for fully sanctioned competition teams. “Esports has been a huge success here,” said Mike Dahle, the Elkhorn esports coach, and president of the Wisconsin High School Esports Association. “We were one of the first 15 schools in the state to have a formalized esports team. We’ve seen a number of students get college scholarships to go play at the next level.”Elkhorn high schoolers compete in games like “Rocket League,” “Mario Kart,” and League of Legends.”Their new arena is decked out in high-tech and fancy interior design, donated by Elkhorn-based furniture companies Palmer Hamilton and Respawn.”I think what we did here is certainly an example of creating a very immersive space,” said Preston Gardner, chief operations officer at Palmer Hamilton and president of Respawn. “When they are walking in the door, their whole attitude can transform, and you feel like you’re on your own little microcosm here at the school, really focused and engaged both on the casual play and the competitive play level.” Attention to detail by Respawn and Palmer Hamilton is seen throughout the new arena, from the specialized lights on the walls all the way to the Elkhorn emblems on the back of the gaming chairs.”It was very impressive seeing it all finally unveiled,” said Angel Ivanov, a senior on the Elkhorn esports team. Ivanov transferred to Elkhorn as a sophomore and instantly found friends thanks to esports.”I’ve met some of my closest friends now through this program,” Ivanov said.That inclusivity is a major reason why esports teams are growing in schools across Wisconsin. Players of all genders, races, and abilities are able to join.”One of my favorite success stories is that I’ve had a student who was wheelchair bound, so no traditional sports are capable, in that instance,” said Dahle. “He loved to play NHL and every day I would take time to play NHL with him. These students find a place to belong. I’ve got a few feel-good emails that I have saved away from different individuals where they’re like, ‘Thank you.’ They now have a close group of friends. They have connections. To me, that’s really important.”The Elkhorn esports arena will also serve as a classroom for high school and community education classes, helping students develop computer literacy skills they can use in future career fields. Top HeadlinesChildren left alone in Madison apartment for a week, mother in IllinoisSeventh inmate dies inside Waupun prison, amid federal investigation and calls for reformMissing Oak Creek teen last seen Saturday, no indication of foul playWatch: Car fire police rescue
There’s a new sports arena turning heads at Elkhorn Area High School that’s dedicated to online competition. The Elk’s new Esports Arena is an investment offering students an alternative to athletics.
Playing video games at school used to be followed up with a punishment, now high schools like Elkhorn are creating esports arenas for fully sanctioned competition teams.
“Esports has been a huge success here,” said Mike Dahle, the Elkhorn esports coach, and president of the Wisconsin High School Esports Association. “We were one of the first 15 schools in the state to have a formalized esports team. We’ve seen a number of students get college scholarships to go play at the next level.”
Elkhorn high schoolers compete in games like “Rocket League,” “Mario Kart,” and League of Legends.”
Their new arena is decked out in high-tech and fancy interior design, donated by Elkhorn-based furniture companies Palmer Hamilton and Respawn.
“I think what we did here is certainly an example of creating a very immersive space,” said Preston Gardner, chief operations officer at Palmer Hamilton and president of Respawn. “When they are walking in the door, their whole attitude can transform, and you feel like you’re on your own little microcosm here at the school, really focused and engaged both on the casual play and the competitive play level.”
Attention to detail by Respawn and Palmer Hamilton is seen throughout the new arena, from the specialized lights on the walls all the way to the Elkhorn emblems on the back of the gaming chairs.
“It was very impressive seeing it all finally unveiled,” said Angel Ivanov, a senior on the Elkhorn esports team.
Ivanov transferred to Elkhorn as a sophomore and instantly found friends thanks to esports.
“I’ve met some of my closest friends now through this program,” Ivanov said.
That inclusivity is a major reason why esports teams are growing in schools across Wisconsin. Players of all genders, races, and abilities are able to join.
“One of my favorite success stories is that I’ve had a student who was wheelchair bound, so no traditional sports are capable, in that instance,” said Dahle. “He loved to play NHL and every day I would take time to play NHL with him. These students find a place to belong. I’ve got a few feel-good emails that I have saved away from different individuals where they’re like, ‘Thank you.’ They now have a close group of friends. They have connections. To me, that’s really important.”
The Elkhorn esports arena will also serve as a classroom for high school and community education classes, helping students develop computer literacy skills they can use in future career fields.
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