Bored at the airport? CLT just added its first gaming lounge, as expansion continues

There’s a new entertainment option to pass the time waiting to catch a flight at Charlotte Douglas International Airport: A gaming lounge.

Gameway opened this month at the Concourse E expansion with individual gaming stations that are fitted with PlayStation or Xbox game consoles and Razer gaming PCs and accessories, Airport Dimensions said Tuesday in a news release.

Airport Dimensions, with headquarters in London and Texas, designs, builds and operates shared-use lounges and airport experiences. The company is collaborating with Gameway, according to the news release.

The new Charlotte airport space includes gaming and lounge chairs, plus drinks and snacks.

The list of popular pre-downloaded games includes: Fortnite, FIFA, NBA2K, Madden, Call of Duty, Minecraft and Rocket League.

“..Simply put, our mission is to make airports entertaining,” Gameway CEO Emma Walbridge said in a statement.

Charlotte airport is Gameway’s fourth location. The space is over 700 square feet and will have six employees, according to the company.

The Oregon-based company has two locations at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and one at Los Angeles International Airport. Two more lounges will open this summer, according to Airport Dimensions. The company did not disclose where.

Video gaming is another way to add new airport experiences and one of the fastest-growing markets in entertainment with millennials and Gen Z, said Chris Gwilliam, vice president global business development at Airport Dimensions.

Gameway at Charlotte airport costs $15.99 for up to 30 minutes, $25.99 for up to one hour or $39.99 for unlimited time, according to the company’s website. Monthly passes also are available.

Gameway is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Reservations can be made online at gameway.gg.

Other airport additions

Gameway is the latest addition of retailers opening in the Concourse E expansion, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

The $50 million project adds 34,000 square feet of space on the north end of Concourse E.

New food and drink options include:

Sycamore Brewing is opening a 1,828-square-foot restaurant and taproom.

PDQ, a fast-casual chicken shop, will open in a 729-square-foot spot.

Commonspace, a coffee shop and bar, featuring North Carolina’s Counter Culture Coffee in a 1,049-square-foot is at the Concourse D/E Connector.

The new spots are expected to open in summer and fall.