In the heart of the nation's capital, engines are revving and crowds are cheering. You'll find the cause of all the noise nestled deep in Chinatown, right behind the famous Capital One Arena. District E is DC's home for esports, hosting a Team Liquid practice facility, the NBA 2K Wizards team, fighting game events, and now a brand new Rocket League tournament.

Beltway Boost arrived to the DC area in 2025, bringing together gamers of all ages and skill ranges to compete in a head to head, 3v3 or 2v2 rocket league battle.  Inside the esports arena you'll find teams from local Universities such as George Mason University, James Madison University, and Howard University. This tournament is not only a training ground for some of the region's most competitive teams, but also a place to learn and grow players new to the game, or looking to one day go pro. 

The atmosphere of the LAN is vibrant, connecting to the District Bites restaurant and filled to the brim with Alienware PCs. Two of the top LAN teams compete on stage, the game playing on the screen behind them, to the watching crowd seated in front of them. Patrons of the Gallery Place mall walk by and stop, transfixed by the game. Blue and red lights paint the floor in LED colors, casting a gamer-esque glow over the competitors. The teams cheer, fist bump, and celebrate as they climb their way through the bracket. Every face wears a smile. The atmosphere is electric, inviting in players both young and old to experience DC esports like never before.

The next Beltway Boost is on March 13, 2025 from 7:00-10:00pm. If you're local to the DC metro area, you don't want to miss this opportunity to show your skills and hang out with your fellow esports athletes. Registration is free, and games are streamed live--so you can share your skills in real time. You can register here to participate in this high-speed event!

Special thanks to the Beltway Boost team and District E for letting me attend, photograph, and experience this event.