PHOENIX, AZ (February 26, 2025) – The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA), in collaboration with the School of Arts, Media and Engineering at Arizona State University and Playfly Sports, proudly announces the 2025 AIA Esports State Championship. The championship event will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM MST at the San Tan Ford Club at Mountain America Stadium.
The competition will feature top high school teams from across Arizona, battling for the state title in three major esports titles: League of Legends, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate. The event will showcase the best student-athletes in high school esports, culminating in an exciting day of competitive gaming and school spirit.
Event Details:
- What: AIA Esports State Championship 2025
- When: May 3, 2025 | 10:00 AM MST
- Where: San Tan Ford Club at Mountain America Stadium, Arizona State University
- Games: League of Legends, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate
- Participating Schools:
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- League of Legends: 2 schools (Championship only)
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- Rocket League: 4 schools (Semifinals & Championship)
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- Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate: 4 schools (Semifinals & Championship)
Competition Schedule:
- 9:00 AM – Doors Open
- 10:00 AM – Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate Semifinal 1
- 11:15 AM – Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate Semifinal 2
- 12:30 PM – Rocket League Semifinal 1
- 1:30 PM – Rocket League Semifinal 2
- 2:30 PM – League of Legends Final
- 5:00 PM – Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate Final
- 6:15 PM – Rocket League Final
“We are thrilled to bring together Arizona’s top high school esports talent for this premier event,” said Brian Bolitho, Chief Business Development Officer at AIA. “The collaboration with the School of Arts, Media and Engineering at ASU and Playfly Sports allows us to elevate the esports experience for student-athletes while providing valuable learning opportunities for ASU students.”
The School of Arts, Media and Engineering will host and produce the championship event on behalf of the AIA and Playfly Sports. This initiative provides ASU students with an unparalleled opportunity to gain hands-on experience in event operations and production, further strengthening the bridge between academia and the rapidly growing esports industry.
“Esports is an exciting and rapidly evolving industry, and we’re proud to provide our students with real-world opportunities to be at the forefront of event production and management,” said Pavan Turaga, director of the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. “Hosting this championship is a testament to our commitment to innovation, student engagement, and growth of esports across our state.”
“At Playfly Sports, we are dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience and expanding the reach of esports at the high school level,” said Joe Navarro, Esports Operations Manager for Playfly. “We are excited to collaborate with AIA and ASU to deliver an unforgettable championship event for these talented competitors.” The 2025 AIA Esports State Championship promises to be an electrifying event filled with high-level gameplay and school pride. Fans, families and gaming enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and support their favorite teams.
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ABOUT ARIZONA INTERSCHOLASTIC ASSOCIATION
The AIA is a voluntary association of public and private Arizona high schools. Since 1913, the organization has created and sustained interscholastic activities that encourage maximum student participation by providing AIA member schools with an even playing field to ensure fair and equitable competition. The AIA believes that providing interscholastic activities for Arizona high school students creates personal development opportunities with a balanced focus on academics and extracurricular activities. Through its Arizona member schools, the AIA reaches more than 125,000 participants in high school activity programs. The organization hosts 1,400 postseason contests, officiates more than 45,000 regular season events, and handles 110,000 officials assignments annually. For more information, visit www.aiaonline.org and www.azpreps365.com.
ABOUT PLAYFLY SPORTS
Playfly Sports is a sports media, marketing and technology business centered around the team, league, brand and network. Believing in ‘Fandom as a Service’ and focusing on a consultative, data-driven approach to REACH, ENGAGE, MONETIZE AND MEASURE FANDOM gives the company’s partners and brands a competitive advantage. Playfly connects more than 2,000 brand partners and over 100 sports properties and entities to approximately 85% of all U.S. sports fans. Through the proprietary platform, the business delivers scalable, data-oriented marketing, technology, and media solutions with capabilities including exclusive MMR management, sponsorship sales and activation, streaming, consulting, ticket/premium sales, all along with new revenue-driving platforms and technologies. Founded in September of 2020, Playfly Sports is now home to approximately 1,000 team members located across 43 U.S. states dedicated to maximizing the impact of highly passionate local sports fans. Follow Playfly Sports on social media @PlayflySports or visit www.playfly.com, and for more on esports follow @PlayflyGG on social media or visit www.playflycollege.gg.
ABOUT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ESPORTS
The School of Arts, Media and Engineering at Arizona State University provides academic pathways in esports and game design with its Media Arts and Sciences degree program and its Esports Lounge. A joint effort between the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the school places students at the intersection of arts and design with an engineering approach. The newest degree concentration in Games and Interactive Media provides students with the knowledge for a critical approach to game design. The school’s Esports Lounge provides a community space for all individuals at ASU who are passionate about gaming and competition to connect and engage in their shared interests. Learn more about the School of Arts, Media and Engineering at artsmediaengineering.asu.edu, and visit esportslounge.asu.edu for information on esports and gaming offerings.
