North American League of Legends Championship Series Set to Downsize
According to reports, the North American League Championship Series (LCS) is expected to downsize from 10 teams to eight. Riot Games and LCS team owners recently held a meeting where this idea was discussed. A decision on the league’s operation is anticipated to be made on Monday.
League personality Michael “Veteran” Archer tweeted about the meeting and the potential downsizing, prompting speculation about which teams will be affected. Veteran and his sources believe that two current LCS teams will not be part of the franchised league in the next split starting in early 2024.
The possible downsizing comes at a time when the region is undergoing significant roster changes. Out of the 10 teams, nine have already made official changes, leaving Golden Guardians as the only team that has not made any announcements. Many speculate that it may be one of the two teams leaving the league.
There are also rumors that Evil Geniuses may be exiting the LCS due to scaling back its esports operations. However, no team has confirmed their withdrawal or addressed the rumors.
This downsizing decision was only discussed with Riot and team ownership, meaning the majority of LCS players and support staff may be unaware of the potential impact on their employment. Veteran tweeted about this concern, wanting to ensure that individuals are aware of the potential uncertainty.
The LCS has been facing viewership challenges in recent seasons, especially in North America. If two teams leave the league, the 2024 opening split will be the first season with fewer than 10 teams in over a decade. Some speculate that Riot may consider a merge with South America or fill the slots with the top NA Challenger squads, resulting in a return to a promotion-relegation system for the region.
We can expect more information after the conclusion of Worlds 2023, as Veteran claims the result of the meeting will be made public on November 20.
reached out to Riot Games but has not received a response at the time of publishing this article.
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