Video game publisher and esports tournament operator, Riot Games, has revealed plans to revamp its existing LEC Studio facility in Berlin to serve as its new hub for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
The venue will be renamed the Riot Games Arena, with the company stating the major upgrade will see it become a “pioneering, flexible and dedicated” esports facility, servicing all current and future Riot Games esports products held in the region.
The Riot Games Arena in Berlin will offer an enhanced arena and fan experience, as well as improved broadcasting and production capabilities, with the utilisation of Riot Games’ Dublin-based Remote Broadcast Center Powered by AWS.
Through the use of digital technology and what it states will be an innovative infrastructural design, the upgrades will enable the facility to switch seamlessly between any Riot Games esports leagues and their brands, while ensuring all events are produced to company standard.
The venue will predominantly host all League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA shows live with a full audience. In addition, it will have the ability to concurrently host other Riot Games EMEA esports events remotely, including Valorant Challengers Ascension, Valorant EMEA Game Changers, EMEA Masters, and Team Fight Tactics (TFT) events.
“We’re all in on esports at Riot Games and in EMEA, so this upgraded, world-leading esports facility will become the beating heart of our esports operations in the region, servicing all our competitions,” said Alberto Guerrero, head of esports for EMEA at Riot Games.
“Creating a venue of this scale is a testament to our long-term dedication to continue developing the future of esports in EMEA for our fans, teams, and their players, and the facility will set us up for further success in the years to come.”
A key aspect of the facility will see an overhaul of the fan experience for those attending in-person as well as watching from home. Riot said fans attending the studio will enjoy an experience that fully immerses them into any esports event on display, with the space expected to host a maximum of 200 spectators in total, including wheelchair seating.
Meanwhile, three dedicated broadcast booths, two dedicated co-streaming booths, an LED screen on stage, and all theatrical and broadcast gear, will combine to offer fans at home a wider variety and higher quality of broadcast streams produced from the venue itself.
“When planning the refurbishment, we put player and fan needs and desires central to our decision making,” said Sarah Joynt Borger, head of media house for Riot Games EMEA.
“On-site, we want to offer an experience that brings them into our worlds, immersing them more fully into Riot Games’ universes. With a large portion of our fan base watching from home, we also needed to put a lot of emphasis on the quality and diversity of our broadcast and production, to enhance their personal viewing experience.”
The venue arena area will see fans in attendance benefit from amphitheatre style fan seating, new cinema seats, and a layout that brings them closer to the players through the addition of a dedicated player tunnel. Meanwhile, an adaptable stage and desk area will enable the arena to change its design and layout efficiently, catering for whichever Riot Games esports league is on display that day.
More details about the studio will be revealed at the start of 2024. The venue is expected to be ready in time for the beginning of the 2024 EMEA esports season, making its debut during the LEC Winter Split in January.
