TAMIU Student Gaming Club Hosts ‘Save The Fort’ Tournament

A unique opportunity for video gamers to game at a national historic landmark is happening Saturday, March 7 at noon at the Jesús Treviño-Uribe Rancho, also known as Fort Treviño, at 300 Treviño St. in San Ygnacio, TX.  

The “Save the Fort” Tournament seeks to raise awareness for the endangered landmark. Originally built in 1830, the 100 by 140 ft. sandstone structure also includes a historic sundial, according to the Texas State Historical Association.    

Registration is available at https://smash.gg/tournament/save-the-fort/details. While there is no age limit, participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent.

The tournament is hosted by the TAMIU Smash Club in partnership with the River Pierce Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to conserve and protect the San Ygnacio Historic District.

For TAMIU Smash Club member Luis Arriaga, the tournament aims to highlight the significance of the historic Fort and bring awareness to the structure.

“The Fort is one of the last pieces of remaining of this particular architecture and is currently threatened by the border wall. The Tournament is being held to bring attention to the threat of the destruction of the landmark and, even if that can’t be stopped, show as many people as possible that it existed,” explained Arriaga.  

He hopes that sharing his passion for gaming contributes to the success of growing an esports community in South Texas.

“Gaming is very important in South Texas because it allows people to compete who might not otherwise be able to do physical sports… It helps facilitate a sense of camaraderie among people from different walks of life into a welcoming community,” said Arriaga.

The Tournament fee is $15 and includes community game setups that include a complete game setup including an esports gaming monitor, GameCube adapter, downloadable content and the game.

Also, carpools with three or more people will be given a $10 gas incentive.

Entrants will compete in Super Smash Bros.’ Ultimate, the latest entry in Nintendo's crossover fighting game that features popular gaming icons.

The grand prize split among the top five finishers. 

An international phenomenon, esports is competitive video gaming often organized through leagues or teams facing off against each other. A reported total of 454 million viewers watch gamers through popular online streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

Between 2010 and 2020, the revenues gained by esports grew from 78 billion to 137 billion – larger than either Hollywood or the American Music Industry, according to a recent article published by The Washington Post.

For more information on the upcoming gaming tournament, please contact Arriaga at luisarriaga@dusty.tamiu.edu or visit the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TAMIUSmash.

More of the University’s story is available on its website, tamiu.edu and dedicated social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

TAMIU is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and its 25th Anniversary at its north Laredo campus throughout 2020. A dedicated website shares the University’s remarkable transformation from a hybrid upper-level University to a full doctoral degree-granting University with over 29,000 graduates worldwide that enrolls over 8,400 students. Visit the calendar of Anniversary events, explore the University’s timeline, review alumni profiles and more at tamiu.edu/50.