‘I get to be myself’: Fresno Unified’s tech arena officially in use

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno Unified cut the ribbon on its new technology arena located at the Tehipite Middle School.

“It’s centrally located,” said the district’s Chief Technology Officer, Tami Lundberg.

“This place is nice, is beautiful, and this is just a place for you to be yourself,” said 8^th grader Yonic Yanez. After years in the making and

the passage of Measure M, the project has come to fruition. “The favorite part is you just get to be with your friends,” said 7^th grader Angel Molina.

Already, Fresno Unified Esports League or FUEL is jumping into action, dominating in their new home field against Fresno State’s Esports league. “Our students can see where they can go, a pathway into college,” Lundberg explained. 

The arena was an old wood shop back in the day. While the facility has sat empty, a new opportunity to build skills students can take into the workforce has taken its place. “So many of the careers right now are tech-based, and we’re seeing it more and more all the time. We’re seeing things like drones out in the fields, monitoring crops and livestock. We’re seeing robotics in our Amazon facility here in town,” shared Lundberg.

Fresno Unified introduces Esports in elementary school. “I love that I get to be myself and play the game while not worrying about anything else,” Yonic exclaimed. Any student can start competing once they get to middle and high school with their school’s Esports league. “If you’re having any problem, they just distract you from your day,” added Angel.

A total of 250 students compete each semester. “It gives them an opportunity if they’ve got digital skills, to compete in a space where they’re familiar, it gives collaboration skills, they learn problem solving, they learn teamwork,” Lundberg said.

Before the arena, the teams would practice in libraries, and tournaments were held in gyms. “There was technology issues. Students were disconnecting mid-match, and it was just a struggle. So having this dedicated space is going to be something amazing for the students. It makes it feel like a real sport, and it feels like we’re finally seeing more respect paid to it as a sport,” said FUEL Coach Frank Molina.

Every detail was thought out in this arena. Whether it’s an Esports tournament or a drone and robotics competition, the facility is equipped with training rooms and locker rooms for teams to warm up and prep before a tournament.

The first tournament to take place in the arena is planned for this November, hosting middle and high school Esports teams from across the district.