I’ve said it before: esports spaces don’t just happen. Behind every arena, every shoutcaster desk, every perfectly lit player POV—there’s a whole lot of planning, tech, and collaboration.

In this episode of THE rAVe Esports Show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Lucas Hayworth, one of the most passionate and knowledgeable figures I’ve met in collegiate esports — and now a rising force at Extron.

Lucas has been in the trenches, which made this conversation so rich. He didn’t come into this industry from the outside. He built his own collegiate esports program from scratch at Oklahoma Christian University. We’re talking about turning a forgotten space in an old museum into a national championship-winning facility. That kind of experience gives you a rare perspective on what it actually takes to design and run competitive esports environments that work — not just look good on paper.

Lucas and I talk about:

• Why esports spaces fail when the AV isn’t designed with gameplay in mind
• How to future-proof your venue (even if you’re just starting small)
• The biggest opportunities for integrators, schools, and program directors

Whether you’re planning a full-scale build or just trying to optimize your space, Lucas brings the kind of insight you only get from being in the trenches.

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Big thanks to Extron for sponsoring our show!