CASE STUDY: BLINK ARENA

In the digital age, gaming has become a global phenomenon, captivating millions of players worldwide. Recognizing the growing demand for a dedicated gaming space, Blink Arena emerged as a pioneering gaming centre on the Isle of Man. We sat down with Leon and Harry, the founders of Blink Arena to find out a little more.

What is Blink Arena and where can we find you?

Blink Arena is a gaming centre offering a variety of gaming experiences, including a PC esports suite, high-end virtual reality, and casual group console experiences.

While we do offer walk-ins, we also offer themed game nights, esports watch parties, private esports tournaments, birthday parties, and corporate social and team building events

You can find us at Riverside Industrial Estate, just off of Pulrose Bridge.

What was the initial idea and vision behind your business? What are your objectives and goals for the company?

We had been running online esports tournaments locally and had always dreamt about owning our own space. When an opportunity to secure a physical location presented itself, we jumped at the chance.

Our vision was to create a place that offered not only a great gaming experience, but also a social atmosphere that catered to both avid gamers and the general public. We're proud of what we have created and feel that it's truly unique and special.

Moving forward, we plan to focus on helping to develop the existing esports community in the Isle of Man, providing a space for tournaments, access to the latest games as well as a venue to watch events.

To reach a broader audience and engage multiple gaming communities, we have adopted a community-focused approach that encompasses various areas of gaming. One of the strategies we will employ to accomplish this is by offering corporate packages.

What are the key factors that make the Blink Arena unique to the Isle of Man?

Our passion for gaming and esports. We've invested heavily in our equipment and production value, ensuring that we offer the best gaming experience to our customers. We also offer the best VR experience available on the market, and are also the first venue on the island to support PC gaming. But what sets us apart is our commitment to building a community. We have solid plans to host events and tournaments that will bring gamers together and create a social environment that's unmatched on the island.

Has being based in the Isle of Man made the process of setting up a business easier or harder? What level of support was available to you?

Setting up Blink Arena on the Isle of Man had its challenges, particularly with regards to ensuring our power requirements were met. However, the Manx Electric Authority provided a quick and efficient solution.

One of the biggest advantages of setting up our business on the island was the tremendous support we received from both local businesses and governmental organisations. Local businesses such as Sterling Trust, Sure Business, Limbo Graphics, Flume, Kosnahan Law, and BuildIT were instrumental in helping us register our company, set up our network, develop our brand, build our website, and obtain licences and permits.

In addition, two government bodies in particular provided invaluable support. Digital Isle of Man provides ongoing advisory support and remains extremely useful in providing valuable connections across industry. Additionally, Digital Isle of Man made us aware of financial support options such as the Micro Business Grant Scheme which was a great resource. We're grateful for the support we've received throughout the process of setting up our business on the Isle of Man - it's clear that we wouldn't have received the same level of support had we been located elsewhere.

What's been one of your favourite moments / accomplishments so far?

One of the most memorable moments for us at Blink Arena was a friendly match we played on a competitive esports game before we opened. It was with some friends, and it really showcased why we started this business in the first place. There was lots of shouting, laughter, suspense - just everything. It was an awesome moment that helped solidify that we had made the right decision in starting this venture.

Another notable moment was securing our first sponsor, Sure Business. It was incredible to see how passionate they were about what we were trying to achieve and how they jumped at the opportunity to support us. It was a great feeling to have their support and we are very grateful for it.

Finally, we had the pleasure of hosting Crossroads Young Carers in April. Their feedback after the session was just incredible, and it really made us feel like we can make a positive difference to people’s lives here on the Isle of Man.

These three moments have been incredibly meaningful to us and serve as reminders of why we started this business and what we hope to achieve.

If you want to find out more about how we at Digital Isle of Man can support you and your business, you can reach us via contact-digital@gov.im.