Challis Cooper is an electrical engineer and co-leader of meSports at ME Engineers, a global leader in building systems design for sports and live entertainment venues. From power and lighting to broadcast and acoustics, ME Engineers is shaping what the next generation of esports infrastructure looks and feels like.
Tell us about ME Engineers and your role in the esports space.
ME Engineers brings a full multidisciplinary approach — mechanical and electrical engineering alongside specialized expertise in ICT, audiovisual and broadcast systems, acoustics, architectural lighting, building performance modeling, and commissioning. Through meSports, we apply all of that to competitive gaming environments, helping design the venues where esports actually happens at the highest level.
What’s the most significant esports project ME Engineers is currently working on?
We’re providing the building and technology systems design for the Qiddiya City Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — designed by Populous. It’s a 5,300-seat, next-generation esports arena featuring the world’s largest total video screen area, a 27,000-square-foot central LED display, 4D haptic seats, and advanced audiovisual systems built to support a fully immersive experience across multiple game genres and event formats. There’s nothing else quite like it being built right now.
How do you ensure your designs keep pace with the evolving needs of the esports industry?
Our multidisciplinary team continuously monitors developments in competitive gaming, venue technology, and digital media — tracking how player, spectator, and broadcaster expectations are shifting. That knowledge, combined with our experience delivering large-scale professional sports and entertainment projects worldwide, lets us integrate high-performance networks, advanced AV and broadcast systems, scalable power and cooling, and adaptable spaces that support both current operations and whatever comes next.
What has ESTA membership meant for your team?
We’re new members, but the value is already clear. Membership keeps our engineers informed on industry trends, creates space to share ideas, and helps us build relationships across the esports world. In return, we bring our expertise in venue design and technology integration — and we hope that perspective helps advance best practices across the industry as a whole.
