Telecommunications companies across state lines collaborate all the time, but two companies teaming up 350 miles apart goes beyond the telecommunications industry.
Paul Bunyan Communications, based out of Bemidji, Minnesota, started the GigaZone Gaming Championship in 2016, and it has since grown to 4,000 attendees at the 2024 event.
GigaZone quickly became a blueprint for how internet providers can connect with younger people in their communities, and Sioux Falls-based SDN Communications, combined with its 17 member companies, saw the value of starting its own event. SDN has relied heavily on Paul Bunyan's team of experts to get the inaugural SoDak Circuit off the ground on Sept. 21 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Registration for the SoDak Circuit is open now, and gamers will have a chance to play “Valorant,” “Fortnite,” “Rocket League,” “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and a custom racing simulator.
“We have been blown away by the support we have received from Paul Bunyan Communications as we started dreaming and making SoDak Circuit a reality,” SDN Communications Marketing Manager Hannah Boquet said. “We are thankful and grateful for their openness to share and eagerness to see esports spread throughout the country.”
SoDak Circuit inspired by GigaZone event
Boquet went to Bemidji in 2023 to observe what went into putting on a major esports event and whether SDN should pursue it. The answer was a firm “yes,” and Paul Bunyan Communications has continued to provide guidance and other resources to SDN ever since.
SDN started several committees to specifically work on the SoDak Circuit. In April, those team members joined Boquet for another visit to GigaZone. The committee members were able to meet with Paul Bunyan employees and ask questions about the behind-the-scenes operations of the event. SDN is using what they learned to help ensure its inaugural event is a success.
From setting up a floor plan at the venue to ensuring a smooth registration process and comfortable seating, there are a lot of details to consider when hosting an esports event, and Paul Bunyan Communications has been helping answer questions every step of the way.
The company will be sending two employees to the SoDak Circuit on Sept. 21 to provide additional help. Along with personnel attending, they will be sending televisions and equipment to mount them on, which will allow for the audience to see multiple games at once.
'Community is always the focus'
Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications, says that they saw SDN Communications looking to do the same thing for similar reasons and thought they could help.
“We are able to share war stories, of what has gone right and what has gone wrong,” Anderson said.
GigaZone has shared with the SoDak Circuit team how to continuously improve the event by coming up with new ideas.
Anderson said the GigaZone team starts preparing 6 months out when they begin to ask themselves, “what should we do different for next year?”
The success of GigaZone runs deep into the company, Anderson said. There are around 80 volunteers from Paul Bunyan who come to help the day of the event, which Anderson said ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
One way that the GigaZone team plans is through feedback. Recently, they had implemented a new program to get employee’s thoughts. Josh Almendinger, one of the leads for GigaZone said “the feedback allows us to make sure people who maybe don’t always have the loudest voice get their opinions heard.”
“For Paul Bunyan and GigaZone, community is always the focus, just having it be a fun and awesome event that people can attend is the whole goal,” Almendinger said.
With the help of Paul Bunyan Communications, SDN Communications and SoDak Circuit will have the same focus.
“I am excited to see the culmination of these months become an event our entire community and state can come together for,” Boquet said. “We have never had an event like this in Sioux Falls that I'm aware of, and I am looking forward to seeing gamers in their element, playing the games that they love supported by our network.”
Added SDN Communications Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ryan Dutton:
“I would like to express my gratitude to the leadership team at Paul Bunyan Communications, including CEO Gary Johnson, Assistant Manager Chad Bullock, COO Christie Turn and CTO Leo Anderson," he said. Their encouragement for their subject matter experts to share insights and experiences with the SDN team has been invaluable. Their support has been instrumental in helping us successfully organize our own esports event.”
