University of Sydney opens on-campus esports hub

The University of Sydney Union and Game Square, a division of ADVA Group, opened Game Square USYD on 13 August 2026 in the Wentworth Building on the University of Sydney campus.

The facility includes 23 high-performance PC gaming stations and console lounge areas with semi-private booths. It also provides dedicated spaces for content creation and production to record or stream gameplay and campus events.

Game Square USYD is configured for daily recreational gaming and for organised activity such as student society workshops, competitive tournaments, brand activations and industry-linked programmes. The venue will operate with scheduled events and open-access hours for student members, with on-site staff to manage events and daily operations.

The partnership is intended to provide a campus site for social activity and student engagement. Archie Wolifson, president of the University of Sydney Union, described the hub as “a welcoming space where friendships can be built, where we can take a break from study, and where people can take part in a vibrant campus community.”

Game Square will run the venue as part of its national esports and video games network. Stephen Hanna, chief executive officer of ADVA Group, said Game Square USYD is the group’s third venue in New South Wales and that the operator helps institutions bring gaming into campus spaces in a professional and accessible way.

The launch is expected to create paid roles for University of Sydney students in venue management, event delivery, customer service and esports programming, providing hands-on experience in running an esports venue and staging events linked to the games industry.

The USYD site follows Game Square’s existing hub at the University of Technology Sydney and the recent opening of the 550-square-metre Red Bull Gaming Hub in Parramatta. The operator plans further campus and community gaming spaces across Australia.