East Tennessee State University’s Esports Division will host the third annual Tri-Cities Slam, presented by Brightspeed, a three-day collegiate esports tournament taking place March 6-8 in conjunction with ETSU-Con.
The event will feature national collegiate competition in Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, bringing together 20 Rocket League teams from across North America. Participating institutions include schools as far west as California State University, Northridge, and internationally from Conestoga College in Canada.
This year’s tournament boasts one of the largest spring collegiate esports prize pools in the region, with $4,000 awarded for Rocket League and $1,500 for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, distributed among the top four finishers.
The most significant development for the 2026 event is its presenting partnership with Brightspeed, a leading internet service provider investing in high-speed connectivity across the Tri-Cities region.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Brightspeed as the presenting partner of the Tri-Cities Slam,” said Jeff Shell, head coach of the Esports Division. “For gamers, internet speed and reliability aren’t luxuries; they’re essential. Brightspeed’s commitment to delivering high-quality connectivity to our region makes this partnership a natural fit.”
Brightspeed will host on-site activations throughout the weekend, engaging not only ETSU students but also the thousands of visitors attending ETSU-Con and tuning in online from across the country.
“This partnership is truly a win-win,” Shell said. “Brightspeed gains direct engagement with a highly connected, tech-savvy audience, while our program continues to elevate the scale and visibility of collegiate esports at ETSU. Their support helps us offer one of the largest prize pools of the spring season and positions this event as a premier national competition.”
“At Brightspeed, we believe fast, reliable fiber internet powers more than just connections; it powers competition, creativity and community,” said Lymari Muñoz, Brightspeed local marketing manager. “We’re proud to serve as the presenting partner of the Tri-Cities Slam and support ETSU’s Esports Division as they bring top collegiate talent from across North America to compete right here in the Tri-Cities. Events like this showcase how critical high-performance connectivity is for gamers, students and fans alike.”
Founded initially to showcase regional collegiate talent from institutions including Milligan University, King University and Northeast State Community College, the Tri-Cities Slam has evolved into a national competition. This year marks its most ambitious expansion yet.
.png)
.jpg)
