Oxford, Ohio – A top varsity esports program at Miami University is closing their doors at the beginning of June due to their funding running out. The program is home to over 74 members including varsity players, a production team, volunteers and student-workers whose contracts remain undetermined.
The esports program released an official statement on April 3rd, 2026:
Miami University has been one of the longest standing D1 varsity programs alongside UC Irvine. They’ve won multiple conference titles and compete in games such as Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, League of Legends, VALORANT, and Street Fighter 6.
Beyond their campus, Miami University paved the way in the collegiate esports scene by being one of the main universities that pushed towards creating the Mid-America Conference for Esports. Some fear that the program shutting down could snowball into other universities reconsidering their own investment in esports.
The loss of the Esports Program is shocking yet unsurprising as it seems as the Esports hype has dwindled down over time as more stories appear of esports programs losing funding nationwide.
Miami University’s varsity program, housed under the Emerging Technology in Business and Design academic department, launched in 2016 and the program’s budget was primarily part of the University’s Commitment called ‘Boldly Creative Projects’ to develop an esports facility, staffing, scholarships and operations for a limited five-year period from 2019-2024.
This situation is an example of how across collegiate programs there is a recurring problem of universities launching programs in short-term funding instead of long-term financial commitments. When that funding runs out, students and staff are left to find a solution, and with no funding secured, they’re left in jeopardy of having their varsity program shuttered and their esports facility repurposed.
The Esports Lounge, containing 30 computers, will remain, but the future of the Varsity Arena of 12 computers in the Armstrong Student Center and the practice facility of 15 computers in the King Library are still under discussion.
While a student-run esports club with over 100+ members remains active on campus, many students have expressed how it cannot replace the support from the university for varsity-level competition.
Several players have begun reconsidering and asking about the transfer process to other universities.
Miami University Esports will accept donations which would go towards covering equipment costs for The Esports Lounge, and their esports club is likely to fundraise separately at the beginning of next semester.
