Esports hub The Wired Lobby in Middlesbrough to finally open in 2023

5 January 2023

Originally, the much-anticipated The Wired Lobby, a brand-new and state-of-the-art esports venue located in the heart of Middlesbrough, was set for opening back in April 2022. The launch was then pushed back a month and then indefinitely, citing delays due to various economic factors, but now the moment seems to have finally arrived. “We are aiming for Q1 opening and it will be the end of Q1 or the beginning of Q2”, said a spokesperson for the million-pound project a few days ago.

Gamer’s paradise

The Wired Lobby is not the first ambitious esports initiative to launch in the UK these past few years. A bit over a month ago, the first Discover:Esports Conference was held in Newcastle and in September, football club Sheffield Wednesday opened its own esports hub, just to name a few examples. The coming launch of The Wired Lobby fits the trend of rapidly esports in the UK perfectly, especially as it’s part of the larger overall regeneration of Middlesbrough’s Captain Cook Square. The project is led by the city of Middlesbrough and costs just over £9 million in total.

As far as The Wired Lobby is concerned, the goal is to make it an absolute paradise for gamers. In the new space, visitors can make use of about 50 ultra-modern gaming desktop computers on top of about 40 different gaming consoles, including Playstations and Xbox machines. There will also be an immersive racing experience based on eight racing simulators, including one full-size shell of a British Touring Car (BTC) provided with elite-level equipment. The Wired Lobby will also boast a space with 100 seats and a special stage where competitions can be held and viewed.

Perfect partnership with Level X

As we mentioned earlier, The Wired Lobby forms part of a larger regeneration scheme initiated by the city of Middlesbrough. They are investing a total of £9.1 million in the project, which will also bring restaurants and other places of leisure to the area, plus a new entertainment venue called Level X. Like The Wired Lobby, Level X has been hit by delays over the past year, but the launch looks to be set for the first quarter of this new year as well. The venue will boast a variety of impressive entertainment facilities, including a bowling alley, a go-kart track, arcade games, and crazy golf.

“Middlesbrough’s amazing new esports venue [The Wired Lobby] has joined forces with Teesside University to provide opportunities for gamers and games programmers to thrive in the booming esports industry”, wrote Andy Preston, Mayor of Middlesbrough, on his Facebook account recently, “The gaming industry is recognised as being among one of the fastest growing sectors in the IT world and a number of high-profile games studios have been created by Teesside University graduates. Now uni students will be able to showcase and test their work at the venue and get feedback from the public”.