LEC Season Finals to be Held in Montpellier, France

Key insights

5 takeaways

01
The League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) will host its 2023 season finals at the Arena Montpellier in Montpellier, France.
02
Arena Montpellier has a seating capacity ranging from 10,000 to 14,000 spectators depending on the event configuration.
03
The 2023 LEC format has been updated to feature a single season final that serves as a qualifier for the League of Legends World Championship.
04
Riot Games reported that the 2022 Summer Split Finals in Malmö, Sweden, generated approximately $4.7 million USD in local economic impact.
05
Confirmed 2023 LEC partners include KitKat, Red Bull, Secretlab, Santander, Displate, Kia, and LG’s Ultragear monitor brand.

Summary

The League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) has announced that its 2023 season finals will take place in Montpellier, France. The event is scheduled to be hosted at the Arena Montpellier, a venue capable of accommodating between 10,000 and 14,000 spectators depending on the specific event configuration. This decision marks a shift in the tournament structure, moving toward a single, unified final that serves as a direct qualifier for the League of Legends World Championship.

The selection of Montpellier highlights the economic significance of hosting major esports events. Previous data from the 2022 Summer Split Finals in Malmö, Sweden, demonstrated that multi-day esports competitions can generate substantial local revenue, with that event contributing approximately $4.7 million USD to the regional economy. While specific details regarding ticket sales, exact dates, and seating arrangements for the Montpellier finals remain forthcoming, the announcement underscores the continued growth and professionalization of the European esports circuit.

Alongside the venue announcement, the LEC confirmed its roster of corporate partners for the 2023 season. The league maintains a diverse portfolio of sponsors, including KitKat, Red Bull, Secretlab, Santander, Displate, Kia, and LG’s Ultragear monitor brand. These partnerships, which are integrated into both broadcast segments and in-game elements, reflect the ongoing commercial interest in the League of Legends ecosystem as it continues to expand its reach across the EMEA region.