Riot Games to Combine LCS and VCT Americas League in Shared Arena for 2023
Riot Games is making a big change for its flagship esports programs, League of Legends and VALORANT. Starting in 2023, the LCS and the VCT Americas League will share a stage at the newly renamed Riot Games Arena. The venue will not only have a new name, but will also undergo a full refresh and makeover. It will feature an 18-feet-high stage that can be customized for each esport and will have over 1,000 LED screens.
The new schedule for both esports has caught attention among fans. The VCT Americas League will be broadcasted in the afternoon and early evening on Saturdays through Mondays, while the LCS moves to Thursdays and Fridays (and sometimes Wednesdays). Some members of the NA League community, like LCS caster Azael, have expressed concerns about the impact of this schedule change on viewership.
Comparing the schedules of European and North American Riot esports, it is clear that the LCS operates at less favorable times for potential viewership. The LEC, for example, starts at 6pm Central European Time and runs from Saturday to Monday, while VCT EMEA runs at the same time from Wednesday to Friday. Among the four leagues for NA/EMEA League and VALORANT, the LCS is the only one that runs only on weekdays during the middle of the day for its respective region.
Despite these changes, the LCS will have the Riot Games Arena to themselves during the 2023 Spring Split, as the VCT kickoff event in Sao Paulo, Brazil will take place instead of the traditional first split for the inaugural season.