TL;DR
- Worlds 2022 confirmed for four North American cities, first since 2016
- Original 2021 China plans shifted to Europe due to travel restrictions
- LCS Commissioner Chris Greeley provided official confirmation in YouTube interview
- European 2021 event likely centered around Berlin’s LEC Studio
- Production team logistics drove venue changes rather than fan preferences
The League of Legends World Championship has experienced significant venue disruptions recently, but 2022 appears back on track with concrete North American plans.
In a definitive statement to Travis Gafford on his YouTube channel, LCS commissioner Chris Greeley verified Worlds 2022’s North American location. Despite previous uncertainties affecting scheduling, Greeley emphasized that next year’s premier League event will definitely occur across multiple US and Canadian locations.
“Absolutely, it’s happening here. We’re planning a four-city tour throughout North America, with specific details to follow from our global operations team,” Greeley confirmed during the interview.
North America was initially scheduled to host Worlds 2021, but pandemic safety measures during China’s 2020 event necessitated changes. Riot Games intended to compensate Chinese supporters with a 2021 return featuring live audiences, but recent developments prompted another shift. Industry reports indicate European hosting for Worlds 2021 became necessary when travel limitations disrupted Riot’s production capabilities.
This situation created potential for further North American postponement to accommodate Chinese fan expectations, but current strategy maintains the 2022 NA commitment. While exact locations remain undisclosed, Greeley confirmed the four-city framework. Los Angeles appears highly probable as a host city, with matches likely staged at the LCS Arena given its infrastructure and broadcast capabilities.
Assuming no further complications, Worlds 2022 will mark the championship’s first North American appearance since the 2016 tournament.
Where will Worlds 2021 take place?
The 2021 World Championship location remains officially unconfirmed, with both 2021 and 2022 events sharing similar uncertainty levels regarding specific venues. Similar to the 2022 situation, portions of the 2021 tournament will probably utilize local franchised league facilities, particularly Berlin’s LEC Studio in Germany. Beyond this assumption, no concrete details are available.
Europe last hosted Worlds in 2019 through a multi-city format: play-in stage at Berlin’s LEC Studio, group phase at another Berlin location, quarterfinals and semifinals in Madrid, culminating with finals in Paris. The rushed relocation for 2021 suggests a potentially different structural approach compared to previous European tournaments.
Action Checklist
- Monitor Riot Games official announcements for 2021 venue confirmation
- Follow LCS and LEC social media for production updates
- Check official Worlds 2022 city announcements expected late 2021
- Research potential host city esports facilities for attendance planning
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