Immersive AV & Esports Hub at Blackpool & The Fylde College

Blackpool and The Fylde College set out to build an esports facility — but ended up creating something much bigger. Partnering with us from AVolution, they transformed their vision into a fully immersive multimedia space for gaming, cinema, broadcasting, and hybrid learning, setting a new benchmark for UK colleges.

Requirements

When Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) approached AVolution, they had recently secured funding through a £65 million government initiative to elevate regional education. Their ambition was bold: to create a future-ready space for their esports curriculum that could also function as a cinema, live broadcast studio, podcasting hub, hybrid learning space, and a venue for public engagement. What began as a concept for a gaming arena quickly evolved into a vision for a multifunctional, immersive media environment—something that could inspire students, serve the community, and stand as a regional benchmark for innovation.
The challenge was as much architectural as it was technological. The main venue was a curved, conical-shaped room with inward-sloping walls and a mezzanine ceiling, creating load-bearing and alignment constraints that typically rule out large-format AV installations. Rather than seeing these constraints as obstacles, AVolution viewed them as a canvas. Working closely with architects, engineers, and the college team, we reimagined the space as a dynamic environment where light, sound, and visuals could be orchestrated in real time—transforming its mood and function at the touch of a button.

Solution

At the core of the transformation is a 15-metre curved LED wall, integrated with an LED floor and ceiling to create a fully immersive environment. More than a visual spectacle, it’s a creative hub for esports, cinema, hybrid teaching, podcasting, and live broadcasting. A custom QSC touch panel lets users switch instantly between modes, while mobile production desks, a podcast booth, and cinematic visuals replicate real-world media workflows. The vision expanded beyond the main room with a walk-in LED cube for exhibitions, interactive lessons, and student showcases. AV-over-IP links now connect key campus locations, enabling content sharing, event streaming, and hybrid participation.
The impact is tangible—students train in professional-grade media environments, boosting skills and employability in the digital sector, while the local community uses the space for theatre, events, and even dementia therapy. What began as an esports arena is now one of the UK’s most advanced educational AV hubs—a model ready to inspire and be replicated nationwide.

Project Benefits

This landmark installation has delivered on every objective set by Blackpool and The Fylde College — and exceeded expectations. From enhancing the student experience to driving community engagement, the project now stands as a benchmark for immersive, multi-functional education spaces in the UK.

Enhanced Learning Experience: A fully immersive AV environment makes lessons more interactive, engaging, and adaptable to different teaching styles.
Multi-Purpose Flexibility: The space transitions seamlessly between esports tournaments, cinematic screenings, hybrid lectures, live broadcasts, and podcast production.
Community Integration: The facilities welcome local groups for theatre performances, exhibitions, and therapeutic immersive sessions, strengthening ties with the region.
Connected Campus: AV-over-IP links enable instant content sharing and live streaming across multiple college locations, ensuring inclusivity and hybrid participation.
Future-Proof Design: Scalable infrastructure ensures the system can grow with emerging technologies, maintaining long-term value and relevance.