Sportscasting students and members of Full Sail University’s collegiate esports organization, Full Sail Armada, recently gained valuable industry experience working with Magic Gaming - the esports arm of Orlando’s professional NBA team, the Orlando Magic. Hosting the first-ever NBA 2K League match held live in a team’s arena during an NBA game, Orlando’s Magic Gaming faced off against Miami’s Heat Check Gaming in the NBA 2K League’s 3V3 Switch Open.

Full Sail served as a production partner for the event, bringing the live stream to audiences online while students studying sportscasting served as hosts and commentators for the live stream. Students Max Gershen and Clayton Wollner commentated over gameplay while host and fellow sportscasting student William Syslo hosted the stream and interviewed coaches and special guests including NBA 2K streamer Ciao Teixeira.

Students Max Gershen and Clayton Wollner commentate during the Switch Open.

Streaming to the official Magic Gaming and NBA 2K League Twitch channels, students involved in the event gained a unique addition to their resumes, working an NBA-affiliated production from Orlando’s Kia Center.

“Full Sail & Magic Gaming have collaborated on many projects during the past few years, so when we [knew] we were hosting an in-person 2K League event we knew we had to get Full Sail involved,” shares Gabe Causse, Manager of Business Operations with the NBA’s Orlando Magic. “Their staff brings a level of knowledge and professionalism that is unmatched in this industry, and it is always great being able to connect with students looking to get real-life experience.”

Student and host William Syslo interviewing NBA 2K streamer Ciao Teixeira between matches at the KIA Center.

Armada students also gained experience during the esports-centric event. Students Jagger Fenwick and Najee Dyson did technical setup for the broadcast and also worked as stage managers, communicating between teams and producers as the best-of-five LAN event progressed.

For Bennett Newsome, Full Sail University’s Director of Esports Growth and Development, the energy of hosting an event in the KIA Center during an NBA match was a special thing to witness.

“The energy from the players and the thousands of fans pouring into the KIA Center is always contagious,” he says. “So many fans stopped to watch and then had questions about how to learn more about NBA 2K League and esports. But really for me, the highlight was watching our students put everything they had into the broadcast. Every time we're able to have students from the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting join us to show off their hosting and casting abilities, I'm always blown away.”