Blizzard opens dedicated eSports arena in Los Angeles to host its own Hearthstone tournaments

Hearthstone developer Blizzard Entertainment has opened its own dedicated eSports arena in Burbank, California.

The Blizzard Arena Los Angeles contains several sound stages, production booths, and player lounges to support multiple simultaneous broadcasts. Blizzard will also sell merch through its stores at the arena.

Initial tournaments will focus on Blizzard's two main eSports titles, console shooter Overwatch and cross-platform CCG Hearthstone. The Hearthstone Championship Tour's Summer Championship begins on October 13th at the venue.

A tipping point

"We're at a tipping point for eSports and we look forward to helping usher in a new era of competition-based entertainment," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment.

"As we open the doors of Blizzard Arena Los Angeles and welcome fans from around the world, we're honored to bring the best in Blizzard eSports to the same stage that some of the biggest names in entertainment have called home."

Hearthstone has surpassed 70 million downloads across PC and mobile in the three years since it launched. Despite its age, it continues to be a largely consistent performer for Blizzard.