Peoria, Illinois, is stepping into the esports spotlight with a bold vision — and an event to match.

In this session, hear firsthand from Discover Peoria, the Peoria Civic Center and the organizer of the Future Play in Peoria gaming and tech festival, which will feature the National Collegiate Esports Showdown when it comes to town in September 2026. The event expects to draw hundreds of college teams who will compete for $50,000 in prizes — and demonstrates how a mid-sized destination can attract large-scale competitive gaming while activating downtown spaces and engaging community partners. 

Learn how the city, venue and organizer collaborated on issues such as economic development, CVB strategy, state tourism support and local hospitality buy-in to position Peoria as a forward-thinking esports destination.