Swedish version here.

The first ”Esports hall” is soon to open in the Swedish town of Uddevalla.
The concept is a Esport Center for youngsters interested in esports.
– To us there’s no difference in supporting esports, football or any other activity, says Annelie Högberg, social democrat and chairman of the culture and leisure committee.

We first heard about the Esports hall project when doing research for our upcoming documentary ”Inside Esports”. The story takes place in the town of Uddevalla, on the western coast of Sweden, where Sweden’s first ”Esports hall” is soon to be opened.

The initiator Karl Sergel confirms the project, but since they’ve waiting to publish a press release, he’s a bit secretive. He say however that they will put a lot of emphasis on health, diet and exercise.
– We want to break preconceptions. We’re gonna have a sports hall and drink health smoothies, Karl tells SVT.

Karl also says that several other towns are going to open esports hall in the future.
– It’s coming up in more than eight communes across the entire country, says Karl.

After digging through the public records we found more information on the project. The town of Uddevalla will provide premises, along with 250 000 Swedish Crowns (roughly 28 000 US dollars). Uddevalla Esports Association, which is the formal association behind the Esports hall, are in turn expected to ’arrange competitions, leagues and other after school activites that creates an attractive and engaging meeting place for citizens with an interest in esports’.

On the political side of the spectrum we find Annelie Högberg, chairman of the culture and leisure committee. She is one of the local politicans who decided on supporting the esportshall.

Esports is one of the largests sports out there and a lot of young people are practicing esports.

To us there isn’t any difference in supporting esports, football, horse riding or any other activity. To many adults esports is quite unknown, but it’s big among younger people.

What’s also interesting about the esports hall is their focus on health, diet and exercise, unlike the stereotypical energy drinks. I think that’s a very interesting path.

Annelie Högberg, social democrat and chairman of the culture and leisure committee.

The Esport hall is planned to be inaugurated in early October. Press releases are to be expected with more information about the project.