Inaugural Soda City Cup E-Sports Competition Held at Harbison Theatre

On Saturday, March 14, 2026, approximately 144 youth participated in the inaugural Soda City Cup e-sports competition at Harbison Theatre. High school and middle school students from across the state battled over Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League in a tournament powered by Lexington One and Midlands Technical College.

Ryan Panter, Lexington One’s Assistant Director of Career & Technical Education, said, “E-sports is more than video games. The students are working together, communicating, and collaborating in all the right ways. These skills are powering up their success in the classroom and beyond.”

E-sports, also known as competitive gaming, is one of the fastest growing sectors of the digital economy, providing education that blends academics, completion, and career-ready skills. It drives student recruitment, retention, and campus engagement. Numerous career pathways stem from e-sports including broadcast production, event operations, analytics, marketing, and game design. Many universities now offer partial or full e-sports scholarships, which helps with recruitment and retention.