Cavs Legion Gaming Club Team Up with KultureCity
to Make Legion Lair Lit by TCP the First Esports Facility in the Country to be Certified as Sensory Inclusive
Cavs Legion Team Member Training and Sensory Tools Promote Positive Experience
for All Guests and Fans with Sensory Sensitivities
Cavs Legion Gaming Club (GC), the NBA 2K League team of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has teamed up with KultureCity to make the Legion Lair Lit by TCP the first esports facility in the country certified by KultureCity as sensory inclusive. KultureCity is a leading nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to rethinking accessibility to create acceptance and inclusion for all individuals. The certification process includes Cavs Legion team member sensory awareness training, and the availability of sensory equipment to promote relaxation and motivation for guests with sensory sensitivities. The new initiative will promote an accommodating and positive experience for all guests and fans with sensory sensitivities that visit Legion Lair for its many events and programs.
The Legion Lair Lit by TCP, which recently opened in the Battery Park neighborhood near downtown Cleveland, is a state-of-the-art esports and gaming center that is available to the public for a full calendar of organized gaming competitions, tournaments and events. It also serves as the practice facility for Cavs Legion of the NBA 2K League.
Featuring 26 gaming stations and screens, massive video wall display, as well as state-of-the-art lighting and sound capabilities, the dynamic environment inside the venue could induce overstimulation. With its new certification, the facility is now prepared to accommodate guests with sensory sensitivities to have the most comfortable and welcoming experience possible when attending an event at the Legion Lair Lit by TCP.
“Gaming is for anyone and everyone from anywhere, so we made it a priority to create an environment at Legion Lair that accommodates the diverse and inclusive nature of our audience,” said Jonathan Sumers, Cleveland Cavaliers Senior Director of Esports. “We are excited to extend KultureCity’s relationship with the Cavs and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to the burgeoning world of esports and elevate our awareness and procedures at Legion Lair to serve each of our guests at a higher level.”
In 2017, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (then Quicken Loans Arena), home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, teamed up with KultureCity to become the first NBA arena to be certified as sensory inclusive. Among other training and service features, the program includes a Quiet Space Sensory Room, which has been widely recognized and awarded for its many positive benefits.
Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. Cavs Legion team members participated in special training led by KultureCity to learn how to better interact with these guests who have sensory sensitivities. Sensory bags, equipped with noise cancelling headphones (provided by Puro Sound Labs), fidget tools, verbal cue cards (produced in conjunction with BoardMaker) and weighted lap pads will also be available. In addition, the Legion Lair will feature a separate room outfitted with Audimute Sound Absorption Sheets and Panels to create a softer, more comfortable area away from the action.
“To know that you soon will be able to see families attend and compete in an esports event with their loved one that may not have been able to previously attend and participate due to a sensory challenge is truly a heartwarming moment,” said Dr. Julian Maha, Co-Founder, KultureCity. “Our communities are what shape our lives and to know that Cavs Legion is willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, no matter their ability, is included in their community is amazing.”
Prior to attending an event at the facility, guests can download the free KultureCity app to learn about the sensory features available and how to access them. The app will also provide a preview of what to expect while enjoying an event at Legion Lair Lit by TCP.
To stay up to date on upcoming tournaments and events at Legion Lair Lit by TCP, as well as to book a group outing at the facility, visit CavsLegion.com/LegionLair. Also be sure to follow the venue @LegionLairTCP and the team @CavsLegionGC.