LEC stays in Berlin
Riot confirmed the LEC will remain primarily at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin for 2027, ending months of broadcast-format speculation. (x.com) The decision keeps the EMEA league anchored to a single home venue for the near term, which matters for ticket and travel planning. (x.com)
Maximilian Peter “Max” Schmidt, Riot’s director for League of Legends Esports in EMEA, provided the clarification to The Esports Radar in response to online rumours, framing the comment as a denial of a wholesale shift to an online-only LEC. (valosettings.com) The Riot Games Arena in Adlershof underwent a 2023–24 refurbishment that increased on-site seating to roughly 210 and installed around 277 screens as part of an amphitheatre-style redesign. (fragster.de) Riot’s 2026 calendar already put a premium on Berlin—LEC Versus ran in the Riot Games Arena from January 17 to March 1, 2026—and Riot has described Roadtrips as complementary events rather than replacements for arena-hosted splits. (liquipedia.net) The recent online-only rumours trace back to former pro Kim “Wadid” Bae-in’s livestream, where he said the Berlin studio might be retired and the season moved online starting in 2027. (insider-gaming.com) Riot told reporters it is still evaluating production options — including select no-audience match days and the “possibility for limited online play” — while keeping the Berlin hub available for standard broadcasts. (valosettings.com) Riot’s official schedule and ticketing guidance continues to list Berlin as the default home for LEC events and notes that specific ticket-release details for events like LEC Versus will be published on official channels ahead of match days. (lolesports.com)
