A major US-based film and digital media production campus called Hollywood River Studios, also known as Wood River Film Studios, is set to include a dedicated 12,000 square feet esports arena.
The project is being built on around 105 acres of the former Envirotech Business Park along Illinois Route 3 in Wood River, Illinois. The development is being led by Pittsburgh-based entrepreneur and studio developer Chris Breakwell through Wood River Farm Investments LLC.
As per Hollywood River Studios’ official website, plans for the campus include up to six modular sound stages, production support buildings, offices, warehouses, large parking areas, and a hotel. One of the standout features is a planned esports venue of about 12,000 square feet.
Chris Breakwell, CEO of Wood River Farm Investments, mentioned that the esports arena will support the studio’s larger entertainment goals and connect with the esports program at East Alton-Wood River High School.
“Technology is driving making movies in the future, so esports lends itself to virtual reality and some of the other technology driving film-making needs,” Breakwell said in a story published by local news outlet RiverBender.com. “You’ll see that drives a lot of the stuff with colleges and universities – I think we want to keep our kids here and we want to develop a long-term employment base.”
As of May 2026, the total cost for the Hollywood River Studios project in Wood River, Illinois, is estimated to be $95 million, which has grown from about $60 million.
A portion of the total project cost will be dedicated to the planned esports arena, which is expected to include features commonly found in modern competitive gaming venues such as a main competition stage, player stations, spectator seating, large LED screens, broadcast and streaming equipment, shoutcaster or commentary booths, practice rooms, high-speed internet infrastructure, and production control areas.
According to a The Telegraph report, the construction of this project is expected to begin in fall 2026 after site preparation and tree clearing. The first production facilities could be finished within six months after groundbreaking, with studio operations possibly starting in late 2026 or early 2027.
A lot of project developers have been pouring money into esports infrastructure lately. Similar to the Wood River film studio project, Central Coast Studios Pty Ltd in Australia has announced plans for a massive $260 million production hub that’ll combine film production and esports under one roof. On top of that, governments are also getting involved, with the Maldives president officially confirming that construction of a new esports arena will kick off later in 2026.
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