Fenworks 2023 - 2024 ND/MN esports state tournament
feburary 22-24

The time has finally come. Get ready for the top of Fenworks competition with all the schools in your state! Browse this page for all the information you need regarding your state tournament.

SOND Update
Please note that the Unified Special Olympics North Dakota portion of the tournament has been postponed. Please reach out if you have any questions. 

additional pages

Introduction

Welcome to the 2024 Fenworks Esports State Tournament! First and foremost, we are so grateful to each of you. Without the students, the General Managers, school administrators, schools, parents, and the communities, Fenworks wouldn’t be who we are and do what we love. We are excited to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the teams competing in the state tournament. We hope you have an enjoyable and memorable experience. Check back often for updates!

This event is free to all participants and fans.  

Traveling

Teams will travel across North Dakota and Minnesota to attend the tournament. Be sure to take a moment to see how long your trip is expected to take to Grand Forks, North Dakota, so you can arrive with plenty of time to get registered and settled in. Schools should plan to arrive in Grand Forks between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on Thursday, February 22. Doors for the general public will open at 11:00 am. Opening ceremonies begin at noon. We encourage all schools and teams to attend it.

Meet Your Host

The 2023 - 2024 Esports Tournament is hosted by the University of North Dakota! We invite you to discover the academic excellence, innovation, and community spirit that define the university.
 
About the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota, located in the lively city of Grand Forks, has been a core part of the region since its inception. UND is committed to promoting innovation and is a leader in providing world-class education. With more than 225 programs available, you have the freedom to chart your own path, whether you are interested in a career in Esports or the latest unmanned aircraft systems. Discover how you can make your mark on the world by exploring the complete list of degree options available.
Learn More

sponsors

Sponsoring community programs is a commitment to shaping the future of innovators and leaders. We're grateful to our amazing sponsors for being a crucial part of this season and tournament! 
Fenworks Supporter Gravity Gaming
We are proud to be partnered with Special Olympics North Dakota (SOND), demonstrating the power of esports as a unifying and inclusive activity!

About Special Olympics North Dakota
Special Olympics North Dakota is part of a worldwide movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports every day around the world. Through work in sports, health education and community building, Special Olympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance, and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society. Every year more than 1,000 Special Olympics athletes are served in North Dakota and have an opportunity to take part in any of the 14 sports offered. With the support of more than 150 coaches, 1,300 statewide volunteers can deliver nearly 85 statewide competitions and events throughout the year. Check out their website or find them on Facebook and Instagram for more!
Learn More

Location

The State Tournament will be held at the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union Ballrooms (2nd floor). Attendees parking in the parking garage are able to use any door to enter. Buses should drop students off at the main entrance along University Ave. The registration table will be set up right outside the Memorial Union Ballrooms.  

UND Memorial Union
2901 University Ave
Grand Forks, ND 58202
(701) 777-4321

parking and buses

Please read parking instructions carefully before parking on the UND campus. Private lots are only for students and faculty, parking there may result in ticketing. Below is a list of available parking spaces for schools, vendors, and attendees.

UND’s college semester is active and in session, along with an at-home UND hockey game at the nearby Ralph Engelstad Arena on Friday and Saturday. This may impact parking in some areas. Look out for special instructions.

Click here for more information on UND parking.

UND has provided free parking for the entire 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of the parking ramp next to the union. Please ignore the pay signs as they will not be enforcing them (2716 Second Ave N, Grand Forks, ND 58203)

Buses will be encouraged to drop students off at the bus “loop” in front of the Memorial Union on University Ave. Buses can pull into the bus stop and drop off their students. They should then proceed to the primary bus parking along the west side of the street on Strinden Road, next to the Chester Fritz Auditorium parking lot. This area is zoned for ‘Passport Parking’ but is okay for buses to use for this event. Overflow bus parking can be found at the NDUS Core Technologies Services building.

The UND EERC parking lot can find overflow parking if the parking garage is full. Attendees are also encouraged to find free parking on the streets of Princeton, Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, Hamline, University Ave, or 5th Ave N. Otherwise, attendees can check this website to find “Pay as you go/Passport Parking” spots on campus.

Dennis Abernathy – Principal

Principal of Warroad High School
"The amount of money to provide esports through Fenworks is miniscule compared to some of the programs schools already run... Why wouldn’t we want to provide that to another group, especially for the low cost?"

Kain Schow – General Manager

GM for Norman County East
"Fenworks gave an opportunity to those kids who don’t always want to be in football, basketball, baseball—the sports that most high schools have. It’s something different for them."
Cassie Gerhardt Headshot

Cassie Gerhardt – Parent

UND Associate VP
"I know many of the people that work with Fenworks, and I have faith in the individuals who lead Fenworks. I know the type of people they are and how ethical they are. They are running a program that’s not just about video games. That’s the vehicle through which they’re trying to provide an opportunity for students to learn teamwork, collaboration skills, and responsibility."
Bradley Parish Headshot

Bradley Parrish – Parent

"I really noticed it was a way for my kids to show their school spirit and school pride in a way that was along with or instead of traditional sports."
Dr Jill Louters Headshot

Dr. Jill Louters – Principal

"Research suggests that in the next five years, 60% of jobs in the world will require tech skills. So where do you get those skills? Some of that comes through esports, which entails not just the analysis, the cognitive thinking, and technical skill, but also the networking and teamwork that occurs online. These are essential skills!"
Tiffany Schroeer Headshot

Tiffany Schroeer – Executive Director

Empowering Kids Executive Director
"We don't have to understand how esports works and how video games work to know that this is important to them and they're practicing leadership and communication."
Christi Stoll Headshot

Christi Stoll – Fundraising Director

Christi Stoll
"It's not just about playing video games; it's about learning new things, learning about technology, and all of the other things that go along with technology."

housing/hotels

Hotel availability during the event may be limited due to a UND home hockey game on Friday and Saturday. We advise prompt hotel booking once a team's attendance at the state tournament is confirmed. We've secured three hotel deals on a first-come, first-served basis. While we recommend prioritizing these deals for schools/teams, they are open to anyone. Teams, team members, and general managers are responsible for booking and paying for the required rooms. 

4040 11th Ave S, Grand Forks, ND 58201

 
15% off rooms (this discount will be in effect until Wed, Feb 21)
 
Use this link to access the Fenworks discount. Please note that the discount only applies Thursday, Feb 22 – Saturday, Feb 24.  

dining

Discover the vast array of dining options on campus and throughout Grand Forks. Fenworks and UND may not be providing meals throughout the tournament. Still, we invite you to delve into the diverse and exciting dining options available for students, GMs, vendors, and fans throughout the event.

 Rest assured, UND dining facilities are prepared to cater to most dietary restrictions. Inform a dining staff member of your needs. All UND dining options and convenience stores operate cashless, accepting Debit Cards, Credit cards, and Apple Pay. If a person doesnt have a debit/credit card or Apple Pay, a prepaid debit card will work. 

Remember that dining locations can get busy on weekdays (11:00 am–2:00 pm). To optimize your dining experience, consider enjoying your meals outside these peak hours. If you dine during this period, be prepared for a potential wait time, which may extend beyond 30 minutes. Please note that a few dining options may be closed on the weekend.

For a seamless dining experience on campus, most dining options are integrated with the GrubHub app. We recommend downloading the app before the event for a smooth and convenient ordering process.

The memorial union has a variety of dining options in the building. Please click here to see all dining options. For hours click here. 

Wilkerson Dining Center is the primary dining location on campus. For more information about Wilkerson Dining click here. For hours click here. 

 Costs:

  • Breakfast with tax = $8.60
  • Lunch and Dinner with tax – $13.90 

How to Use GrubHub at Wilkerson see below: Setup GrubHub for UND Campus Dining

  • Navigate to Wilkerson Dining Center
  • Select the food location that you would like to order from, the options are: Allergen Free, The Grille, Sizzling Salads, Wood Fired Italiano or Noodles
  • Select and order from the offered food menu
  • Head over to Wilkerson Dining Center and scan in like normal
  • Go directly to the location that you ordered food from
  • Locate the plate with your labeled name and ordered meal on it

If you choose to eat off campus, please make sure you arrive back in time before your next event. Otherwise, your team will potentially receive a forfeit. Restaurant suggestions in Grand Forks can be found here. 

STREAMING AND SPECTATING

Can’t make it to the event? Check out our live stream. We will be steaming all the Main Stage games. Check out the event schedule and brackets by clicking the buttons below. Click the links to our socials, where we will be streaming.  

Twitch | YouTube | Facebook 

Chess and Smash: Chess and Smash will allow for in-person viewing only. Fenworks will stream none of those games. There will be limited viewing areas in the conference rooms next to the ballroom where the matches will be held.  

Esports Lab: Most matches will be played in the UND esports lab. Due to the limited space in the lab and to give players a better playing environment, only players who are playing in the current game, subs, and GMs will be allowed in the Esports Lab. Each match will have TVs in the main ballroom for spectators to view the game.  

Main Stage/Ballroom: All mainstage games will be played in the ballroom with ample physical viewing, and they will all be live-streamed. 

This tournament is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or otherwise associated with, Psyonix LLC. The information players provide in connection with this tournament is being provided to tournament organizer and not to Psyonix LLC. By participating in this tournament, to the extent permitted by applicable law, players agree to release and hold harmless Psyonix LLC, its parent company, licensors, its and their affiliates, and its and their employees, officers, directors, agents, contractors, and other representatives from all claims, demands, actions, losses, liabilities, and expenses related to the tournament.

 This competition is not affiliated with or sponsored by Riot Games, Inc., League of Legends Esports or VALORANT Esports.

 This event is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Epic Games, Inc.

Nintendo is not a sponsor of or affiliated with this tournament. Terms for participating in and viewing Community Tournaments using Nintendo Games.