National ESports Event Beams Into Davenport Next Weekend
Quad Cities – The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) will host a series of scholastic LAN events throughout the 2021-22 academic year called the Hometown Series. A LAN event stands for Local Area Network event where players connect computers together for 
multiplayer video games played simultaneously.
In conjunction with St. Ambrose University, the NECC’s Hometown Series will head to Davenport, Iowa, on Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24. Visit Quad Cities is also serving as a presenting partner in the event. The state-of-the-art Rhythm City Casino will serve as the host location for the NECC scholastic LAN event in the Quad Cities. Tickets for the event will go on sale shortly.
The NECC’s Hometown Series are open to both collegiate and high school programs. The NECC will host six to eight of these events throughout the 2021-22 academic year. The Hometown Series officially kicks off in South Bend, Indiana, on August 28-29 at the Bendix Esports Arena.
“As a grassroots-oriented young esports professional, I am grateful to collaborate with the NECC on creating impactful experiences for collegiate esports,” said Chase Neukam, Hometown Series Event Team Manager and Director of Esports at St. Ambrose.
“I have planned and operated over 150 esports events ranging from local gatherings to nationally-recognized tournaments and I believe the Hometown Series is a particularly special opportunity for scholastic esports. I’m eager to spearhead the Event Team for these innovative initiatives with my colleagues Chase Dewitt, Caleb Glube, and Zach Zahnle.”
“We are thrilled to announce the new Hometown Series Esports event with the NECC, St. Ambrose University, and Rhythm City Casino Resort,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “Hosting the student-athletes and delivering a unique Quad Cities experience will be a priority for our organization with this first-time event. We are constantly looking at new and innovative ideas and events that build our story and brand. This opportunity aligned 
with those objectives. We look forward to working closely with the NECC and our long-time partners at St. Ambrose University and Rhythm City Casino Resort during the next few months to bring it to life.”
“Rhythm City Casino Resort is always looking for exciting guest opportunities and the NECC Hometown Series is a perfect example of the unique events we like to offer,” said Ryan Lounsbury, the Director of Marketing at Rhythm City Casino. “We have worked with some of the key members that are a part of the event in the past and have seen the fun and excitement they can bring. We are looking forward to the October event and thrilled to be the host property.”
The NECC’s Hometown Series is open to both high school and collegiate players and teams and provides them with an opportunity to compete and showcase their skills across a handful of titles. The upcoming stops in Wausau and Davenport will feature game play, as well as college fairs and educational panels. Panelists will include esports industry professionals, college esports representatives, and NECC staff members.
For more information on registering for these events or for partnering with the NECC, please contact Jacob VanRyn at jacob@neccathletics.com
About NECC Esports
The NECC began sponsoring esports in the fall of 2020. The NECC is currently sponsoring both regular season competition and championships across a wide variety of titles. The conference aims to serve the gaming community with respect and is a safe and inclusive environment. With more than 90 colleges and universities currently competing in the conference, the NECC is proud to be a positive home for the collegiate gaming community. For more information, please visit necc.gg
