Aurora officials are celebrating the grand opening of two new eSports hubs, which will be free with recreation center membership starting in early January.

Each eSports hub at Aurora recreation centers will have 10 professional gaming computers, a PlayStation 5 and a Nintendo Switch, according to a news release from Aurora’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department Monday.

The hubs will be located in the Central Recreation Center, 18150 E. Vassar Place, and the Southeast Recreation Center and Fieldhouse, 25400 E. Alexander Drive.

Aurora officials will host two grand opening celebrations with giveaways, food, prizes, video game-themed activities, a visit from Gov. Jared Polis and photo and autograph opportunities with Miles from the Denver Broncos, the news release said.

The Central Rec Center grand opening will be Monday, Jan. 5, from noon to 6 p.m. and the Southeast Rec Center grand opening will be Tuesday, Jan. 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hub use is included in a center membership fee or costs $5 for drop-in use. It is free through We Are Aurora Youth, a program that offers free rec center access to teens ages 13 to 17 during school breaks, the release said.

Troy Johnan, Aurora’s eSports recreation supervisor, said the hubs are meant to provide inclusivity for kids who “need a break or might feel out of place with activities like basketball, volleyball or fieldhouse sports.”

“The opportunity here to practice or make friends is great to see in these spaces,” Johnan said. “Colorado High School Activities Association does recognize eSports as an official sport. Schools are even giving out scholarships.”

Aurora’s eSports program started in 2021, offering virtual programming to residents and then opening an eSports Lounge inside the Expo Community Center in 2022. It was the first center of its kind for Colorado youth to compete and connect using gaming computers, the release said.

The Expo Community Center has a variety of eSports programming year-round, including eSports leagues, robotics camps and coding classes.

More information is available at AuroraGov.org/eSports.