Northeast Indiana becomes the Hub for Esports
The largest Smash Bros tournament in Indiana history is coming to Kruse Plaza in Auburn on January 11th and 12th. Hosted by The Odyssey Esports, Afterburner is a fighting game esports tournament set up to become one of the biggest events of its kind in the Midwest. Players from all over the USA are signed up, including 20 different states. As of January 6th, over 400 players are ready to compete in this massive tournament with over $2,500 in pot bonuses.
Afterburner will be held at the Kruse Plaza in Auburn, Indiana as an all-ages, two-day event. The venue will be open from 9 AM to 9:30 PM on Saturday and will reopen from 9 AM to 9:30 PM on Sunday. Spectators can purchase a pass for $20. Minors receive one free spectator pass for their parent or guardian. The tournament is also streamed live on Twitch. Finals begin at 2pm on Sunday and is streamed to online spectators. Registration closes on January 4th at midnight. The venue, Kruse Plaza, is located at 5634 Opportunity Blvd, Auburn, IN 46706, USA.
Players are traveling from all over America to attend this tournament. Some are even flying in from New York, Texas, and California. A commentator flying in from Texas, Oscar Rodriguez, commented, “If you want to check out some rising talent, along with some household names in the US, look no further.” Aside from traveling solo, many high school and college esports teams are traveling together to compete. Purdue Fort Wayne and Ohio State University are just a few of the college teams, as well as Concord High School’s team representing younger players. Players can join by visiting the tournament page or through Odyssey Esports’ website. Spectators can purchase their passes at the door.
The tournament is being hosted by Fort Wayne’s local eSports company, The Odyssey Esports. Since they began hosting tournaments in December 2022, The Odyssey has become a home for eSports in Fort Wayne. The company hosts brackets for Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Super Smash Bros Melee, Street Fighter 6, and Rivals of Aether II. Their goal is to make Northeastern Indiana into a hub for eSports in the Midwest. “The main reason I wanted to start these events in the first place was to bring something this big to my home, Northeast Indiana,” Landon Frank, the company’s co-owner, stated.
Previous large tournaments have drawn in hundreds of players. In 2024, Afterburner had over 400 attendees. After that, The Works, at Fort Wayne’s Electric Works, brought in over 200 attendees over the summer. Odyssey Esports also hosts weekly tournaments at their Fort Wayne location. “Our main goal of this year’s Afterburner is to host a very high quality and enjoyable event for all attendees and spectators,” Frank said. Players of all skill levels are welcome and can receive great practice in a fun environment.
Afterburner will also have vendors available for players and spectators. Vendors will have controllers, gaming accessories, and art for attendees to look through. Afterburner-specific merchandise can be ordered through the tournament page.
For media or event inquiries, please contact landon@theodysseyesports.com
Tournament Page
https://www.start.gg/afterburner
Website
https://theodysseyesports.com