Gamers First (G1) CEO and Founder Kenny Vaccaro has “secured” a 25,500-square-foot warehouse in Austin, Texas, which will become the new home of G1, its women’s Rocket League competition Women’s Car Ball (WCB), and the recently-acquired custom gaming PC maker Evolve PC, according to a report in Austin Business Journal published Tuesday.
A representative for G1 pointed out that the new location is a lease and not an outright purchase.
No specifics were given on the cost of the new location, but ABJ noted in its reporting that it was told it was a “multimillion-dollar investment” in the space, and Vaccaro’s team has put together plans to build a concert stage, a production studio, a training facility, offices, player lounges, a podcast studio, and what is described as an “invite-only speakeasy.” According to ABJ, the facility is aligned with other businesses in the area including a “Tesla showroom, 3D-printing construction company Icon Technology, St. Elmo Brewing Co. and Still Austin Whiskey Co.”
Construction has already started, according to AJB, with an expected completion date of Q3 2024.
G1 was expected to make this announcement last week, but controversy surrounding late payments to staff and competitors in WCB delayed that temporarily— the company quickly rectified that situation over the weekend.
Founded by the former Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints defensive back (who retired from the NFL in 2021), G1 fields professional rosters in Trackmania, Halo, and Rocket League, and supports a number of content creators.
Editor’s note: AJB corrected its story (and it was later confirmed by G1), noting that this is a “lease” and not a purchase of the location. We have updated the body of our story and our headline to reflect this.