The news that one of the world's biggest esports tournaments will hold its 2024 grand final at the O2 Arena in London is a tremendous boon for the UK’s esports and wider video games industry.
The UK boasts the largest community of student esports players in Europe, growing on average by 8.5% annually between 2016 and 2019. Bringing the 2024 Worlds to the UK will help put our growing UK esports industry on the map, attracting more players and more revenue streams to help us compete on a growing global stage.
We’re thrilled to bring the World Final to the UK for the first time,” said Naz Aletaha, Global Head of LoL Esports. “Worlds is a global celebration of the best of League of Legends, and London’s rich history and modern metropolis is a perfect backdrop for the biggest stage in our sport. We were blown away by the passion and energy from fans in London throughout the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational, and we’re eager to welcome them to the O2 where our finalists will take the same stage as the many icons who preceded them.”
“London is a leading destination for esports, and it’s fantastic that we will host the League of Legends World Championship Finals next year,” said Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. “It will bring together esports fans from across the globe and also showcase our capital’s cutting edge gaming industry. I will continue to do all I can to support esports development and growth in London, as we build a better London for everyone.”
You can find out more about the tournament here and read our recent report Esports in the UK: Opportunities and Challenges here.