Bolingbrook — The Bolingbrook Police Department has announced a series of temporary lane closures which will take place intermittently over the next two weeks .

According to Bolingbrook police, the lanes on Illinois Route 53 under the Interstate 55 bridge will be closed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in order to install new required lighting underneath the bridge.

Police warn that the closures will cause travel delays and encourage drivers to find alternative routes to avoid the area while the work is ongoing.

“We are looking forward to creating thoughtful and intentional products based on the channel’s most viewed videos,” said Katy Roshannon, Senior Director of Brand Marketing at Bonkers Toys.

The 2025 EsportsTravel Summit in Bloomington, Minnesota, provided educational programming that gave insight into the health and trajectory of the esports industry.

The event, hosted by Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism, took place at the JW Marriott at Mall of America. The opening session titled “The State of In-Person Esports Events” discussed how esports events are evolving from the professional ranks to the grassroots.

Economic pressures have posed recent challenges for parts of the esports events industry but also provided new opportunities, as growth remains steady at the collegiate and amateur levels. In this opening discussion, the panelists included Jaycee Dubyuh, founder of The Telligent Agency; Jake Utities, head of esports at Fenworks; and Matt Basta, director of DKC Esports.

Basta said the main word he would use to describe the current state of the esports industry is recalibration.

“We were at the peak of excitement during the pandemic, but then we had some esports teams that didn’t deliver what they were supposed to. So now, we are recalibrating as an industry,” Basta said. “There’s a lot of positive, forward progress in the industry. It’s a young sport that’s still becoming a business, and we have to build it carefully and strategically. The NFL was founded in 1920 and the NBA was founded in 1949. So our industry is still very young.”

Utities works predominately in the high school esports space and points out that the benefits of academic esports are the same as any after school program. Collegiate esports are experiencing a period of explosive growth, which has led to colleges and universities offering scholarships, giving students new pathways to college that they’ve never had before.

“Overwatch is just like hockey — you have your team and you have your friends, and you see the ways that students can grow through esports,” Utities said. “They’re learning things like marketing and social media. It’s not just about economic impact, but also social impact in your community when you host an esports event.”

“A lot of colleges and universities are looking at esports as not only a recruiting tool, but a retention tool on their campuses,” Basta added. “They can develop a community on campus and invite high school players to come to campus as well and get them interested in attending that college.”

Dubyuh brings esports events to many destinations and says the key to hosting a successful event is to make sure participants leave with a smile.

“You want everybody involved in your event to leave with a positive experience. These events have now become mainstream and can take us from playing in our basement to the consumer market,” Dubyuh said. “You don’t have to restrict it to a ballroom — you can have players experience a destination overall and not just be gaming the entire time. And once players enjoy your event, they put it into their budget and want to attend every year. Organizers need to think of what’s uncommon and work with a destination to put on an event that’s an outlier.”

All three panelists agreed the future of esports is in a strong position, but there’s room for improvement.

“We need to figure out a new revenue structure for esports, but the future is very bright,” Utities said.

“Organizers need to do a better job of getting out there and promoting their event. And be willing to go to different cities. But overall, the industry is growing,” Basta added.

“Esports is in a place of transition, but we’re starting to see which parts of the industry are strongest,” Dubyuh said. “There are a lot of amazing organizers in this room today, and we can approach this with a vision and structure. Playing and winning isn’t the end of the road for esports players. They learn so many lessons as they play that set them up for life.”

Education Sessions

Attendees were able to experience a variety of educational programming throughout the two days at the Mall of America. Members of the esports community and the destinations that host their events were able to give updates on the industry.

• The session “E-chat: The Latest Research in Esports-Related Travel” featured Tyler Othen, project manager at Conventions, Sports and Leisure International giving insight into what esports fans want. CSL has been surveying esports fans on their preferences and their willingness to travel for years, and this session dove into those insights.
• “Professional Case Study: Fortnite and Rocket League” provided an inside look at a wild two weeks in Fort Worth in 2024. James Woollard, director of market development and consumer revenue at Blast, was joined by Cassie Poss, interim executive director at the Fort Worth Sports Commission, to discuss two consecutive weekends that the city’s Dickies Arena hosted the Fortnite World Championships followed by the Rocket League World Championships.
• The session “E-Chat: What Your Events Can Learn from the Mayo Clinic” featured Jane Konidis, founder of the Gaming & Esports Medicine Clinic at the Mayo Clinic. Konidis discussed how the most prestigious medical organization in the world is investing in the industry to help esports organizations train their players and ensure that their health and wellness needs are met.
• The session “Case Study: Positioning Your Region to Host Multiple World Championships” included Todd Harris, CEO of Resurgens Gaming, and Timothy Ray, sports sales manager at Cobb Travel & Tourism and Cobb Sports Alliance. The duo explained how their partnership in Georgia has been beneficial for both the esports brands and the destination that hosts major events.
• The panel for “Collegiate Case Study: Midwest Battleground” included Igor Bakovic, director of sports at the DuPage Sports Commission; Joey Gawrysiak, executive director of esports at Syracuse University; and David White, project manager at LANFest. Earlier this year, the second Midwest Battleground was held in DuPage, attracting more than 40 college teams in an event that also included a high school and grassroots component. This session provided a road map of how the destination launched the event, lessons learned, challenges faced and what a destination needs to know about launching an esports event.
• The closing luncheon “Merging Esports and Traditional Sports” featured Adam Mierzejewski, head of operations at Rally Cry, talking about the Championship Tour, which saw the company activate a mobile gaming truck and travel to high-profile college football games last season. Mierzejewski discussed how a destination can think about activating esports at sporting events that are already being hosted.

The NCAA will be holding a special tournament featuring Mobile Legends: Bang Bang this coming June and July, just before the ‘Grand Old League’s’ historic Season 100 comes to a close. 

No less than NCAA management committee chairman and Lyceum of the Philippines representative Hercules Callanta– according to a report by Bea Micaller of GMA Integrated News– confirmed the development, with the official kickoff and first round robin scheduled on June 28 and 29. 

The second round robin will be staged from July 12 to 13, while the finals round will be held offline and in person from July 25 to July 27 at the Philippine Game Development Expo (PGDX) at the SMX Convention Center. 

Callanta clarified, however, that the esports tilt is NOT YET part of the NCAA calendar’s regular lineup of events– thus making it a ‘special tournament’ – but emphasized that the league is open to the possibility of its inclusion moving forward. 

“It’s a special event. The aim is to highlight ‘yung mga popular games in the Philippines that are not part of the calendar of events ng NCAA pero they’re very popular,” Callanta told GMA News Online on Monday.

He likewise said that the upcoming ML:BB games can be an avenue for the league to gauge how its 10 member schools perceive the event, and to look into the logistical needs should it be formally added to the lineup of sporting events in the future. 

According to Micaller’s report, “this will not be the first time that NCAA schools are taking part in esports events.”

The Collegiate Center for Esports held a Mobile Legends tournament last in 2021, where the 10 NCAA member schools took part. It was an exciting participation for the NCAA representatives as some contingents featured varsity basketball players, such as Letran’s Fran Yu and King Caralipio, San Beda’s Damie Cuntapay and Yukien Andrada, Perpetual’s Jasper Cuevas, and Mapúa’s Warren Bonifacio. 

During the 2021 games, LPU emerged on top and was crowned its inaugural champion.

Callanta reportedly said that participation in these pocket tournaments has helped the league in its pursuit of introducing esports this year, which will also likely include Valorant, a first-person hero shooter game, next year. 

“Actually, through the efforts of Esports Philippines, for the past two or three years already, they conducted competitions in esports among the member schools of the NCAA so sanay na ‘yung NCAA sa mga esports competitions kaya lang limited lang.”

(From the report of Bea Micaller/GMA Integrated News)

The energy was electric: Three teams of students from three neighboring school systems faced off in a high-stakes competition, their colorful jerseys and team pride on full display. But this wasn’t your typical sporting event; students were navigating block-based worlds, racing against the clock to design sustainable, hurricane-resistant schools.

This was the South Florida Showdown, the first Minecraft Education tri-district esports challenge of its kind. For the students, it was more than a game. It showcased communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking — the 4Cs in action. These essential, durable skills are at the heart of frameworks like ISTE’s Standards for Students and the Partnership for 21st Century Learning’s framework, which emphasize what students need to thrive in school and beyond.

Esports Moves from the Sidelines to the Spotlight

Esports has been exploding across schools; thousands of schools now offer some form of competitive gaming. For many students, these programs provide a sense of belonging and a platform for leadership.

“Beyond the thrill of competition, esports supports students’ education by engaging them in exciting online gaming, developing teamwork and collaboration skills, increasing critical thinking and spatial reasoning, and promoting leadership abilities in a safe, controlled online space,” says Dr. Lisa Milenkovic, supervisor of STEM and computer science at Broward County Public Schools.

Through competitive gaming, students strengthen digital literacy, teamwork and social-emotional skills, while also creating pathways to explore STEM learning and career readiness.

Programs like New York City’s Battle of the Boroughs and the South Florida Showdown reframe esports as more than after-school entertainment. They’re becoming instructional models that promote problem-solving, community building and student voice.

“Watching students from across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach come together to solve real-world challenges using Minecraft Education was inspiring,” says Carlos Vazquez, founder of Miami EdTech. “It showed that when we invest in creativity and community, we build more than projects; we build futures.”

Building Real-World Learning Through Games

Florida schools face frequent hurricane threats, making resilient building design a critical local issue. By focusing on hurricane-resistant schools, the challenge connected STEM learning to real-world community needs.

The South Florida Showdown aimed to engage thousands of learners across three counties in designing sustainable solutions for their communities, researching the impacts of climate change and exploring the opportunities of green design for their neighborhoods.

The event’s three-phase structure made room for everyone to get involved:

• Phase 1 District Innovation: Over 350 students submitted Minecraft builds of hurricane-resistant, sustainable communities, showcasing their creativity while tackling real-world problems.
• Phase 2 Semi-Finals: District champions tackled the challenge of restoring the Everglades ecosystem, applying science and teamwork in a digital environment.
• Phase 3 Live Finale: Elementary, middle and high school teams competed in a 30-minute esports showdown, held at the Levan Center of Innovation at Nova Southeastern University, to design climate-resilient schools. Standouts included the all-girl team “The Banana Splits,” the middle school team “1204” from Miami-Dade and high school champs “Coral Crafters” from Broward.

Leigh Arnold, an educational technology specialist from the School District of Palm Beach County, noted that “students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in something they love, while educators were thrilled to see them demonstrate their knowledge through creative builds and presentations.”

What stood out most? The way the Showdown brought together students from every district and grade level. With its success, regional leaders are already planning the next phase, emphasizing teacher training, broader participation and enhanced support. Esports is fast becoming a cornerstone of innovative education.

What Students Take Away from Competitive Play

These esports events are not just about technical proficiency but about building transferable skills that prepare students for the future.

“The real joy came from working together — six minds with a hundred thousand ideas. When we created our world, we had our differences, but we found common ground by including some ideas and compromising on others. Minecraft esport teamwork at its best,” says Nina, a member of the Banana Splits team.

What do students take away from these experiences? More than you might expect:

• Critical Thinking: Students tackle real-world problems with technical expertise.
• Collaboration: Teams build shared purpose and community.
• Future-Ready Skills: Participants gain experience in public speaking and digital design.
• Confidence: English Language learners improve through hands-on projects.
• Teamwork: Students develop leadership and communication skills under pressure.

The gaming world hasn’t always been known for its diversity, but that’s starting to change. Programs like this open new doors for students who don’t always see themselves represented in traditional extracurriculars, especially girls, multilingual learners and students with disabilities.

A student from Coral Springs High School, Broward County, shared, “This was my first time participating in an esports competition, and honestly, I can’t wait to do it again! From the brainstorming to building to the presentation, I feel honored to have been part of this experience.”

How to Launch an Esports Program

Districts hoping to replicate this success can take a few key lessons from the South Florida model:

• Start with curriculum integration. Esports becomes more than a game when tied to academic content. Embedding challenges into interdisciplinary units — such as STEM or social studies lessons that explore environmental impact, community planning or climate justice — turns gameplay into real-world problem-solving.
• Focus on teacher support. Teachers are the backbone of success. Offer hands-on training, lesson plans and co-teaching models to help educators feel confident using game-based tools.
• Leverage accessible tools. Platforms like Minecraft Education offer plug-and-play templates, tutorials and in-game guidance — perfect for easing adoption. Choose tools that are affordable, device-friendly and inclusive.
• Encourage mentorship and partnerships. Partner with local edtech nonprofits, higher ed institutions and industry experts to create authentic experiences. Mentors can guide students in both gameplay and career exploration, strengthening community ties.

As more districts look for innovative ways to prepare students for the digital economy, these esports events set the stage for a new kind of classroom — one that meets students where they are and takes them where they want to go.

Attending ISTELive 25? Check out the session “Build a Chicken: Run an Esports Challenge with Minecraft” for more information on getting started. Register here.

BusinessWire India

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This collaboration brings together industry leaders with a shared vision: to empower India’s rapidly growing gaming community – a surge fuelled by widespread internet accessibility across the nation.

Priced at just INR 495/month, the Jio Gaming Pack offers exceptional value to Jio users by combining ultra-fast 5G connectivity on India’s most advanced 5G network, and exclusive in-game rewards for BGMI players — all in a single, seamless recharge.

Seddharth Merrotra, Head – Business Development and Partnerships, KRAFTON India, added, “At KRAFTON, our mission has always been to elevate and democratize gaming experiences for Indian players. With over 200 million downloads and one of the most passionate communities in the country, BGMI has become more than just a game; it’s a cultural phenomenon.”

Delighted to collaborate with Jio, he further added, “Our partnership with Jio is a strategic step towards unlocking the next generation of gamers of our country, where mobile-first gaming is booming. Jio’s unmatched digital infrastructure, combined with our immersive game content, creates a powerful ecosystem where access, performance, and experience go hand in hand. Together, we’re not just enabling gameplay, we’re building the future of gaming in India.”

A Jio spokesperson said,”Gaming is an integral part of India’s digital lifestyle, and Jio is committed to enhancing that experience. With this gaming pack, we are not just providing connectivity; we are delivering real value by offering 5G connectivity, Cloud Gaming Subscription, and Exclusive in-game rewards with a single recharge. This partnership with BGMI sets a new benchmark in the industry.”

Unlocking the Power of the Jio Gaming Pack – Empowering Gamers with Seamless Connectivity and Exclusive Rewards

With the new Jio Gaming Pack, users receive:

1. Special coupons to claim premium skins like the Bard’s Journey Set, Desert Taskforce Mask, and Tap Boom Molotov Cocktail of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) as in-game rewards with every recharge

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2. Step 2: Receive unique BGMI reward codes on MyJio App (→ Profile → Coupons & Winnings)

3. Step 3: Redeem codes on BGMI’s official redemption site, https://www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/redeem (→ Enter Your Character ID, Redemption Code & verify CAPTCHA → press “Confirm” button). You will receive a message: “Code has been redeemed” on successful redemption

How to access your JioGames Cloud subscription

1. Install & Open JioGames App – https://jiogames.page.link/GPack

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Availability of the Pack

The Jio Gaming Pack is now available for recharge across platforms. Gamers can enjoy seamless access to premium cloud games while unlocking exclusive benefits through MyJio app or by visiting www.jio.com.

Jio continues to redefine connectivity and the future of digital entertainment, putting power, performance, and play in the hands of every Indian gamer.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)