On December 16, 2020, at the 39th General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia, it was confirmed that the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games would add two new events: eSports and breaking, with eSports classified as an 'intellectual sport.' This means that eSports has officially been included as a competition event in the Hangzhou Asian Games. △Click the video for an early look at the Hangzhou eSports Center hosting the Asian Games eSports events. The China Hangzhou eSports Center (hereinafter referred to as the 'eSports Center') is the country’s first professional eSports stadium, with an overall solution provided by Dafeng. The venue, shaped like a 'star battleship,' has a total construction area of 82,000 square meters and 4,087 seats, contributing to the creation of an international eSports hub leading a new era of eSports. It is the largest single curved slab building in China and will host competitions for eight eSports events during the Hangzhou Asian Games, including League of Legends, Honor of Kings (Asian Games version), Peacekeeper Elite (Asian Games version), Hearthstone, Dota, Meng San Guo 2, Street Fighter V, and FIFA Online 4, with a total of eight gold medals expected. On May 31, 2022, after 20 months of meticulous construction, the eSports Center was unveiled to the public for the first time. At the eSports Center launch ceremony and the first public open day with the first eSports exhibition match held that afternoon, Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Mayor Chen Weiqiang announced the official opening of the eSports Center. Cool! Watching an eSports exhibition match inside the 'star battleship.' During the day's events, citizens experienced the excitement and charm of the eSports Center in depth and watched the first eSports exhibition match for free inside the 'star battleship.' …
On December 16, 2020, the 39th plenary session of the Olympic Council of Asia confirmed that the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games would add two new events: esports and breakdancing, with esports being considered a "mental event." This meant that esports was officially included as a competition event at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
△ Click the video to get an exclusive first look at the Hangzhou Esports Center
The China Hangzhou Esports Center (hereinafter referred to as the "Esports Center"), which hosts the esports events of the Hangzhou Asian Games, is the first professional esports event venue in China, with Dafeng providing the overall solution. This venue, shaped like a "Starship," has a total construction area of 82,000 square meters and 4,087 seats, helping to create a strong international esports energy that leads the new era of esports.
It is the largest single-piece curved snowboard structure in China. During the Hangzhou Asian Games, it will host competitions in eight esports titles, including League of Legends, Honor of Kings (Asian Games edition), Peacekeeper Elite (Asian Games edition), Hearthstone, Dota, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Street Fighter 5, and FIFA Online 4, with an expected 8 gold medals.
On May 31, 2022, after 20 months of meticulous development, the e-sports center was unveiled to the public for the first time. At the opening ceremony of the e-sports center, the first citizen open day, and the first e-sports performance match held that afternoon, Chen Weiqiang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and Vice Mayor, announced the official opening of the center.
Cool! Inside the 'Starship'
Watch esports demonstration matches
During the event, citizens deeply experienced the passion and charm of the esports center and watched the first esports exhibition match for free inside the "Starship."
At the event, 16 heavyweight contestants including the original Koi Cup champion and popular Wang Nanfeng, known as "Xia Shao," Qingyu, a well-known Bilibili content creator skilled in teaching, and the star professional player "Fang Dao" Haotian from the world champion team JTeam, competed in a "Huashan Sword Debate" on "Starship" to compete.
Intelligent systems provide safe protection
Providing an immersive viewing experience
"Venue Display and Control System"
Compared to other traditional sports events, the viewing experience of esports matches is very different. Almost all event content is presented through screens, so providing a better viewing experience for the audience is a key focus in venue design.
Dafeng has set up a ring of ring screens and advertising screens on the walls around the venue, using first-level 'sound, light, and electricity' standards to create an immersive viewing experience, giving the audience a 180-degree up-down and 360-degree panoramic visual experience.
The dynamic screens, 3D holographic cameras, large electronic interactive installations, and other multimedia devices inside the venue will be a major highlight during the event.
"Esports and Performing Arts Sound Reinforcement System"
In addition to the display and control systems, Dafeng also equips the e-sports center with world-class e-sports and performance sound reinforcement systems, mainly divided into sound reinforcement systems and stage management systems.
The esports and performance sound reinforcement at the competition venue is equipped with a main and backup digital mixing console, a dual-channel digital and analog amplifier signal transmission system, and remote control and monitoring of the amplifier via Ethernet. The speakers use internationally renowned products. The main venue expansion uses six sets of high-quality line array speakers, with six front speakers in the audience area around the stage opening, along with 12 subwoofer speakers, 4 fixed stage return speakers, and 6 stage mobile return speakers.
"Performance Lighting System"
Additionally, venue lighting systems have special requirements. Compared to traditional sports competitions, esports games place greater emphasis on atmosphere creation, so lighting systems tend to focus on performance effects.
Dafeng installed 192 liftable effect fixtures on the ceiling of the venue, capable of rotating 360° up, down, left, and right. During competitions, red and blue lights can be used to distinguish audience groups, and multi-point spotlights create dazzling colors and atmosphere, achieving concert-like lighting effects.
Signal transmission uses fiber optic dual-ring network technology, with Ethernet transmission as backup; Signals are distributed in a star pattern, with terminals set up with DMX and Ethernet nodes.
"Mechanical Lifting System"
Esports centers must meet the needs of esports competitions, indoor sports events, and similar uses, with mechanical hanging configurations that can be flexibly adjusted to accommodate different usage modes.
The venue is equipped with 66 0.5-ton chain electric hoists, arranged in an irregular triangular ring along the roof structural beam trajectory with spacing of 43 meters and 32 meters, and one ring along a 20-meter diameter. Each ring is customized with six sets of aluminum alloy curved TRUSS frames, each set synchronously lifted by three chain electric hoists, allowing for hanging lighting and decorations as needed; Six sets of audio chain electric hoists are arranged along a 16-meter diameter near the center, and 12 2-ton chain electric hoists are evenly distributed at a 10-meter diameter, dedicated to hanging the screen screen.
The flexible layout of the mechanical suspension system and its ultra-long 22-meter travel meet the needs of various usage modes such as esports competitions and indoor sports events.
"Site Lighting System"
The venue lighting design uses 42 sets of 600W LED floodlights. The spectator stands use 12 sets of 200W LED floodlights and 19 sets of 100W LED floodlights.
Safety lighting for the venue and audience seating uses six sets of 200W LED floodlights and ten sets of 100W LED floodlights. All lighting fixtures are arranged along two circular walkways. The fixtures are fixed to the paths using clamps.
"Intelligent Sports Competition System"
The eSports Center's intelligent sports competition system consists of nine subsystems: timing and scoring and on-site score processing system, esports direct broadcast and on-site commentary system, competition information release system, flag-raising control system, standard clock system, competition equipment and event integrated management system, ticketing and inspection system, match video collection, playback and analysis system, and sports display system.
The intelligent competition system facilities and equipment configured for this project will meet the requirements of specialized esports events during the Asian Games, as well as the related needs for post-match ball events.
"Sports Event Security System"
The esports center's sports event security system consists of two subsystems: the public security weak current system and the 350 Mbps digital trunking and indoor signal distribution system.
The public security security weak current system includes equipment supply, installation, commissioning, and related services for integrated cabling systems (digital TV networks), security monitoring systems, entrance and exit control systems, security alarms, and emergency assistance barrier-free systems.
The 350 Mbps digital trunking and indoor signal distribution system should reach a first-class level in the region, with main equipment selected from advanced domestic and international products; The system and equipment should meet relevant national standards and be interoperable with the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau's 350M system, as well as with other base stations in Hangzhou; the selected equipment should fully consider advancement and versatility; The system should have ample scalability and operate safely.
"Sports Process Power Systems"
For the daily operations of the esports center, professional UPS systems have been installed and arranged to ensure power supply for both the public security computer room and the operator's data center.
During the e-sports center competitions, UPS systems are installed and arranged in conjunction with the venue's display screens, performance lighting systems, performance sound reinforcement systems, mechanical hanging systems, venue lighting systems, and competition intelligence systems to ensure power supply for esports events and related activities.
5G+AI digital twin cockpit
Watch the Asian Games on one screen, manage the entire park with one network
Due to the special nature of esports events, the large electronic equipment inside Starship is several times larger than in other venues, raising higher demands for intelligent management. At this point, the digital cockpit of the venue's command center will play a crucial role.
Upon entering the command hall of the esports center, one will see the intelligent cockpit successfully constructing a digital twin of intelligent venues and facilities, enabling digital perception, control, operation, and operation across all scenarios, spaces, and elements—truly "one brain commanding the whole picture."
The eSports Center will follow the concept of one base, three middle platforms, and multiple applications, promoting unified network interconnection of venue equipment, real-time data aggregation, and one-network monitoring of operational status, striving to achieve one-screen monitoring of venue operations and one-click access to event handling.
During the Hangzhou Asian Games, the cockpit was specially set up for runtime operation mode, allowing traffic analysis and alerts for vehicle data, passage data, and ticket inspection data with one click, promptly activating various emergency plans to make the Hangzhou Asian Games safer and more efficient during the Games.