Texas A&M University in negotiations for Esports facility at Post Oak Mall

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -Texas A&M Esports team announced that the university is in negotiations with the City of College Station to lease a new facility at Post Oak Mall.

The Texas A&M Esports team took to Twitter on Wednesday morning and said during a meeting, President M. Katherine Banks said the they’re negotiating for a location in Post Oak Mall, specifically in the old Macy’s.

This comes after President Banks told the Esports team two months ago that “Esports were in the university’s future,” according to the team’s tweet.

Macy’s closed its doors in College Station at the beginning of 2021, the space has remained empty since. The College Station City Council approved a contract to buy the property back in August for $7.3 million. Since then, discussions have been held about what to do with the property at City Council meetings, although the former Macy’s has stayed empty.

The president of Texas A&M Esports, Caroline Shee, told KBTX having a physical location to meet up and take part in activities would benefit the student organization.

“We have one side which is our community side for gamers to meet up, socialize and talk about games. We have field teams in so many different leagues all across the nation at a collegiate level,” said Shee. “To have a physical location where we can go to game with their friends and hone their skills, it would just mean so much to our community.”

Texas A&M University confirmed the negotiation with the City of College Station:

KBTX reached out to a legal expert who said the draft letter of intent would cover the key agreement items and would suggest conversations with both parties would have been happening for several weeks, or months. He also mentioned how this deal, with millions of dollars on the line, could potentially take several back-and-forth discussions.

The City Manager of College Station gave KBTX a statement that also confirmed the negotiation for the Macy’s property.

It’s too early to know specific information on this negotiation at this point like the term of the potential lease, rent prices or specifics on taxes.

For more information on Texas A&M Esports, click here.

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