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London will host the League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2024) grand finals at the O2 this weekend – and experts predict it will provide a £12m boost to the London economy.
Thousands of fans from all over the world are expected to head to the O2 tomorrow to watch, with London’s business growth and destination agency London & Partners calculating a £12m boost to the London economy from hosting the finals.
According to a press release, Worlds 2024 will boost the capital’s economy and ‘cement its position as leading destination for sports and esports’.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has also today welcomed the finals to the capital and celebrated the impact of the growing industry. It will be the largest esports event ever to take place in the UK and will bring more opportunities for growth, talent development and skills for young Londoners.
In comparison, Riot said earlier this year at a London & Partners summit that Worlds 2022’s economy impact in North America was $53m, and the Worlds 2023 economic impact in Korea was set to reach $153m.
City Hall has also commissioned Arena Consultancy to conduct a new piece of research to gain a deeper understanding of what more London needs to do to become a global centre for esports.
The O2 Arena’s Worlds 2024 tickets sold out in minutes (unfortunately with Worlds 2024 ticket issues) and millions are set to watch from around the world. The Mayor continues to support London’s thriving games and esports industry bringing significant investment and jobs to the capital, according to a press release.
Last year’s finals were held in South Korea, while MSI 2023 took place in London’s Copper Box Arena, and Worlds 2015 also had its quarter finals stage in London.
London is also home to ‘the largest group of games studios in Europe and esports is a growing market offering huge potential for London’s businesses and communities’, the press release continued.
‘The Mayor is a big supporter of the games industry, which generates millions of pounds for our economy and is a growing force. His support includes funding Games London who run the UK’s only Games Production Finance Market which brings in new investment to help games businesses grow, and delivers the annual London Games Festival (which had a Rocket League event in 2024). Through work with London & Partners, Sadiq has also helped to bring esports events to London.’
The League of Legends World Championship is the latest in a series of global events to take place in London this year, including the UEFA Champions League final, European Professional Club Rugby Finals, NFL, Major League Baseball and Diamond League athletics.
City Hall hosts industry event at Fnatic HQ in London, as Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth says: ‘We want London to be the world capital of esports’
Earlier this week, City Hall also convened a panel discussion with partners Fnatic – a London-based esports organisation – and London & Partners.
Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, Howard Dawber opened the event at the Fnatic HQ in London to champion esports and explore ways to further support esports in the capital.
“Esports is crucial to London, we want London to be the sporting capital of the world and the world capital of esports,” he said.
Sam Mathews, CEO at Fnatic, also had a fireside chat with Joe Jenkins of sports marketing agency IMG about brands engaging with esports.
There was also a panel discussing esports’ potential in London, featuring Fnatic head of marketing Georgina Macauley, Esports Insider co-founder Sam Cooke and consultant Martin Montes, hosted by Ailsa Buck, London & Partners Head of Major Events and City Experience.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted that the League of Legends World Championship finals are taking place in the capital this weekend.
“The event brings together gamers and fans from across the globe, boosting our economy by £12m and showing that London is a leading destination for sports and esports.
“Gaming is a hugely exciting and fast growing industry, and I will continue to do all I can to support its development and growth in the capital, as we build a better London for everyone.”
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London
Ailsa Buck, Head of Major Events and City Experience at London & Partners, added: “We’re thrilled to host the League of Legends World Championship Finals. The excitement is electric and we can’t wait for fans to have an unforgettable experience in the capital. Hosting such a huge esports event shows that London is a top destination for the industry. T
“Tickets flew off the shelves in minutes. That tells us there’s a huge demand for more esports in the city. We’re ready to make this day special for everyone.”
Sam Mathews, CEO at Fnatic, added: “Partnering with the GLA and London & Partners to bring this event to life is an exciting step for Fnatic and esports in London. As one of the world’s leading esports organizations, Fnatic has always pushed boundaries—and there’s no better place to showcase that than in our home city.
“London’s support shows a real commitment to making this city a global hub for gaming. We’re looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for our fans and the community right here and forging the future of esports in the city.”
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
