Founded in 2008, Gamers for Giving is a streaming marathon and LAN party that helps raise funds for Gamers Outreach. Activities from the event support Gamers Outreach charity programs, which focus on providing entertainment to hospitalized kids. Through the years, the video game community has helped raise millions of dollars, enabling more than four million gaming experiences each year for families receiving care. You can read more about our impact in last year's annual report.
Free Spectator Pass
General BYOC LAN Seat
Enhanced BYOC LAN Seat
Premium BYOC LAN Seat
Private Suite
Eastern Michigan University
George Gervin GameAbove Center
799 N Hewitt Rd,
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Saturday, March 25th
Sunday, March 26th
Tournaments, live broadcast, activities, raffle, & more!
Create your own online fundraiser & help bring entertainment to kids in hospitals. Collect donations, stream to your audience, and make an impact with your community.
Free Spectator Pass
General BYOC LAN Seat
Enhanced BYOC LAN Seat
Premium BYOC LAN Seat
Private Suite
Create your own online fundraiser & help bring entertainment to kids in hospitals. Collect donations, stream to your audience, and make an impact with your community.
Eastern Michigan University
George Gervin GameAbove Center
799 N Hewitt Rd,
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Saturday, March 25th
Sunday, March 26th
Tournaments, live broadcast, activities, raffle, & more!
Hotel
While many attendees stay overnight at the venue to maximize gaming time, a number of hotels exist throughout the Ann Arbor area within 6 - 8 miles of the venue. We'd recommend the Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel as a potential option!
Travel
For those flying in from out of state, the closest airport to Gamers for Giving is the Detroit Metro Airport (airport code: DTW). The airport is about 20 minutes from the venue. Uber and Lyft are available for ground transportation.
Food
Food will be available from a variety of sources. Concessions will be open during the daytime, and outside food and beverage are permitted. Additionally, several locations deliver to the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Lan Tickets
Tickets are available for purchase through our website. Our 2023 event offers five distinct ticket types. Please read the information below for details!
The general seating ticket provides you with a spot in our BYOC LAN party.
- 2 Power Outlets
- Internet Connection
- Chair
- 3 Feet of Table Space
- 1 Raffle Ticket
The Enhanced ticket provides early venue access for another night of gaming!
- 2 Power Outlets
- Internet Connection
- Chair
- 3 Feet of Table Space
- 10 Raffle Tickets
- Friday Venue Access
The Premium ticket provides more power, access, space, swag, and a snack cart!
- 4 Power Outlets
- Internet Connection
- Chair
- 6 Feet of Table Space
- GFG Hoodie
- Friday Venue Access
- 15 Raffle Tickets
- Snack Cart
- Suite For Up To 8 People
- 16 - 20 Power Outlets
- Chairs/Tables
- Dedicated Network Switch
- Friday Venue Access
- Up to 8 GFG Hoodies
- Snack Cart
- Select Concierge Service
- Private Security
- Private Venue Entrance/Exit
- GO Kart for Preferred Hospital
- Guild Banner Hung Above Suite
- 15 Raffle Tickets Per Person (8 people)
Spectating is free at Gamers for Giving!
Bring your entire squad, family or BOTH! We love pets but they are not allowed at the venue (due to flashing lights, loud sounds, and LOTS of power cables).
You can also select this option if you are a press member interested in covering the event.
- Any TimeOnline streaming marathons begin and last throughout the week!
- 6:00 PMEarly venue access for Enhanced, Premium, and Suite ticket holders.
- 6:00 PMNo tournaments will be held on Friday. Competitve events will take place on Saturday & Sunday.
- 11:00 PMVenue doors locked. Event attendees or guardians only.
- 10:00 AMDoors open for General ticket holders and spectators.
- 1:00 PMCS:GO Tournament Begins
- 1:30 PMRocket League Tournament Begins
- 2:00 PMLeague of Legends Tournament Begins
- 2:30 PMValorant Tournament Begins
- 3:00 PMStarCraft 2 Tournament Begins
- 3:30 PMHalo FFA Tournament Begins
- 4:00 PMHearthstone Tournament Begins
- 5:00 PMChess Tournament Begins
- 10:00 PMJudging for Most Impressive PC Award
- 11:00 PMVenue doors locked. Event attendees or guardians only.
- 10:00 AMDoors open for spectators.
- 11:00 AMBest Camper Award (judging takes place overnight).
- TBDExtended tournaments from Saturday continue!
- 11:59 PMishThe LAN party will come to an end!
The Gamers for Giving LAN party features a variety of tournaments & activities for some of today's most popular esports titles.
All LAN attendees are eligible to participate in the competitions with the exception of the Smash Ultimate tournament - which is being organized by a third party & has its own entry fee (see below for details).
More information & rules for this year's activities can be found below. Prizing and/or trophies will be offered for each listed tournament. All prizing is guaranteed.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 CS: GO tournament as part of their entry.
Trophies and a $2,500 prize will be awarded to the team that finishes in first place. The team that finishes in second place will be awarded a $1,500 prize.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 Rocket League tournament as part of their entry.
Trophies and a $1,500 prize will be awarded to the team that finishes in first place. The team that finishes in second place will be awarded a $900 prize.
The full list of settings and rules can be viewed here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 League of Legends tournament as part of their entry.
Trophies and a $2,500 prize will be awarded to the team that finishes in first place. The team that finishes in second place will be awarded a $1,500 prize.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 Valorant tournament as part of their entry.
Trophies will be awarded to the team that finishes in first place.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 StarCraft II tournament as part of their entry.
A trophy and prizing of $500 will be awarded to the player that finishes in first place. A prize of $300 will be awarded to the player that finishes in second place.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 Halo Infinite tournament as part of their entry.
A trophy and prizing of $500 will be awarded to the player that finishes in first place. A prize of $300 will be awarded to the player that finishes in second place.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 Hearthstone tournament as part of their entry.
A trophy will be awarded to the player that finishes in first place.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
LAN attendees are eligible to compete in the Gamers for Giving 2023 Chess tournament as part of their entry.
A trophy will be awarded to the player that finishes in first place.
Please view the full list of rules and settings here.
A tournament for the most elaborate "campsite" at Gamers for Giving will be awarded to the attendee who exhibits a creative sleeping setup around their station to support overnight gaming.
Camp sites will be judged on a 1 - 5 point scale based on the following criteria:
- Comfort
- Creativity
- Privacy
- Efficient Use of SpaceA trophy and REI gift card will be awarded to the attendee with the highest score.
A competition for the "Most Impressive PC Award" will be held at Gamers for Giving.
PCs will be judged on a 1 - 5 point scale based on the following criteria:
- Cable management
- Enviable Hardware
- Uniqueness
- Design AestheticA trophy will be awarded to the attendee with the highest score.
On Saturday, March 25th – the Ann Arbor Smash community will unite for an event called “Phoenix Down,” hosted by the same team responsible for organizing “Bahamut” last September.
This event will feature a cast of Michigan talent, overseeing competition for a singles and doubles bracket. On-demand side events will run throughout the day as well.
The Smash tournament will take place within the Auxiliary gym, which is the same room that hosted the Halo Championship Series during our last in-person gathering in 2019.
A $1,500 guaranteed pot bonus will be up for grabs, in addition to prizing determined by the event’s entry fees.
We’re excited to welcome the team from Phoenix Down to Gamers for Giving, and to provide a venue for their event this March!
The Smash tournament will begin on Saturday, March 25th at 10:00 AM Eastern.
For registration, tournament details, and information, please visit the Phoenix Down Start.gg page, located here. You can also join the group's Discord channel, or follow them on Twitter.
We’ll see you in March!
LAN EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
Bring with you:
- Computer with necessary cables (or video game console)
- Monitor (Note if your monitor is larger than 27 inches, you will need to purchase 2 seats. Premium tickets accommodate larger monitors).
- Headset / mouse / keyboard.
- Ethernet cable (preferably 25 feet long).
- Updated software. No one wants to spend their time updating things!
- Sleeping bag / pillow (if you plan on roughing the venue).
- Money for food/snacks.
- Each LAN seat has 2 electrical outlets (premium tickets have 4). Do not bring your own power strip or attempt to exceed the number of receptacles provided. If you'd like additional outlets, you must buy another seat at the LAN. Failure to abide by this rule may result in removal from the event.