Riot Games opens new EMEA esports base in Berlin

Riot Games has shared a first look at its new home of esports in EMEA ahead of the 2024 esports season. The world-leading esports facility base din Berlin, Germany – which will service Riot Games EMEA Esports events held in the region – will open to the public for the first time this weekend for the start of the 2024 EMEA esports season.

“I’m delighted to unveil the Riot Games Arena in Berlin to the world, sharing with our fans a first look at this new, world class, dedicated esports facility,” said Alberto Guerrero, head of esports EMEA at Riot Games. “We’ve innovated both aesthetically and technologically to create the new home for Riot Games Esports in EMEA, improving the experience for fans, teams and their players. The venue sets a high bar for esports in the world, and will set us up for further success in the years to come as we continue to commit to developing the future of esports in the region.”

As part of the unveiling, additional information about key aspects to the venue, including the on-site fan area, have been revealed. The venue, which will fully immerse fans into any Riot Games Esports event on display during a showday, has seen the introduction of an EMEA Esports Hall of Fame, which is able to switch between relevant league brands through digital technology. It will also introduce a caster viewing area, offering fans the ability to watch their favourite on-air talent team members during showdays through a transparent window. Additional upgrades include a brand-new fan tunnel, as well as improvements to meet and greet, cafe, fan lounge, merchandise store, box office and bar areas.

The arena, which will benefit from new cinema style seating and an amphitheatre-style crowd set up, will see an increase in capacity by 20%, enhancing the number of on-site seats to 210. The venue has also improved the player experience, increasing the number of dedicated warm up rooms to six, as well as introducing an all new player lounge area and dedicated huddle spaces for teams inbetween matches.

Beginning in September 2023, the venue has undergone a significant refurbishment to become an arena capable of hosting numerous Riot Games EMEA Esports titles, through the use of an innovative infrastructural design and the support of Riot Games’ Dublin-based Remote Broadcast Centre, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Formerly the LEC Studio, the new Riot Games Arena in Berlin will predominantly serve as the new home for the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and Valorant Champions Tour EMEA (VCT EMEA). Additionally, the venue will be able to remotely facilitate events for other esports events, including Valorant Challengers Ascension, Valorant EMEA Game Changers, EMEA Masters, and Team Fight Tactics (TFT) events.

Fans can experience the Riot Games Arena in Berlin starting this week, with tickets available for events available throughout the year via the following Riot Games EMEA ticketing platforms for the LEC and VCT EMEA.