Real Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, has partnered up with the Federation of Sport to launch a brand new £1.6m ($2.1m USD) gaming and sports centre in Hull, England.

The Federation of Sport, led by a tech entrepreneur, Tombanane, transformed part of King William House, which is the old 1970s bank building in Market Place, into a modern hub for gaming, sport and social activities.

The project gained extra attention because one of its co-owners is Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. This is his first major UK business venture, although he already runs several esports organisations, including TC Esports, TC Racing and DUX Gaming in Spain. Courtois says he hopes to open more sites in Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, and the team is even exploring options in Spain, the Netherlands and the UAE.

The company said that around 50 new jobs have been created, and the founders hope the hub will help bring more people into Hull city centre. A report by HullDailyMail also mentions that the Federation of Sport received a £400,000 ($534,000) grant from Hull City Council’s £2m ($2.67m) Levelling Up fund.

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Thibaut Courtois stated, “The Federation of Sport represents everything I believe in. Using technology not just for entertainment but as a way to build communities. As someone passionate about sim sports and esports, I see this as an opportunity to inspire young people to connect, compete, and collaborate in a positive environment. It’s about getting them out of their rooms and into a space where they can share their love for gaming with others.”

The centre offers a wide mix of attractions, including golf simulators, virtual reality escape rooms, team combat games, interactive darts, PC gaming and dedicated esports areas. There is also a huge stadium-style screen where visitors can watch matches together.

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