London’s College of Esports to host Katana Spring Open LAN

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Irish and UK esports organisation Katana Gaming will be hosting a Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Katana Spring Open LAN in 2025.

This will take place on March 8th and 9th at London’s College of Esports facility at the Lee Valley VeloPark, which is situated at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London.

The event will feature a £3,000 prize pool, 16 teams, and an after party.

Tickets go on sale Saturday December 14th 2024 from 11am GMT.

Katana announced the event via this video on their socials, featuring Jack Stovell of Noctem Esports, the UK org that won the Katana LAN at The Wired Lobby earlier this year.

Andrew ‘Enigma’ Campion will be presenting the LAN event. He had a few words to say below, saying it’ll be ‘a hell of a weekend’:

‘This upcoming event isn’t just a competition, it’s part of our broader strategy to support grassroots players and provide them with pathways to pro’ – Katana Gaming

Katana Gaming CEO Jacques ‘Heffy’ Heffernan sent the following statement to Esports News UK: “At Katana Gaming, our mission has always been clear—#AllAboutTheGamers. We’re dedicated to fostering esports, building communities, creating engaging content, and delivering top-tier events that truly resonate with the gaming scene.

“Our partnership with the College of Esports marks a significant milestone for us. It’s not just a collaboration, it’s a shared vision to elevate grassroots esports, provide invaluable opportunities for the next generation of talent, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the industry.

“In March, we’re excited to host a Call of Duty LAN event for 16 teams—a step toward revitalizing the European Call of Duty scene. There’s a clear demand for more LAN events in this space, and Katana Gaming is stepping up to meet it.

“Our history with Call of Duty runs deep, from the content creators we support to the online leagues, tournaments, and LAN events we organise.

“This upcoming event isn’t just a competition – it’s part of our broader strategy to support grassroots players and provide them with pathways to semi-professional and professional opportunities.

“Looking ahead, we aim to continue being a driving force in European Call of Duty esports. Our ‘online leagues to LANs’ approach creates a unique ecosystem where players can thrive, and we plan to expand this model further. With the College of Esports as our partner, we’re confident that together we can innovate and deliver experiences that leave a lasting impact on players, fans, and the industry as a whole.”

‘The College of Esports is more than just an academic institution, it’s a way of life’ – London Legion

Steven Woodward – Head of College of Esports’ London Legion esports team, and associate lecturer, added in a statement: “The College of Esports is more than just an academic institution, it’s a way of life. We go beyond theory and into practice, offering real-world experiences that are underpinned by carefully curated partnerships with global brands at the forefront of competitive gaming.

“Our mission is to empower the next generation of esports talent through real-world opportunities. We are committed to being at the cutting edge of innovation, equipping students with the tools, experience, and connections they need to thrive in the dynamic esports industry.

“Our relationship with Katana Gaming, under the leadership of Heffy, and our collaboration with the British Esports Federation, exemplify this mission in action.

“The upcoming Call of Duty LAN event in March is a moment of immense pride for the College of Esports. This event, which might not otherwise be happening in Europe, stands as a testament to what can be achieved when industry and academia come together. Hosting an event of this calibre on our campus not only revitalises the European Call of Duty scene but also provides a platform for players, students, and fans to showcase their talent and passion.

“Looking ahead, we are excited to continue working with Katana Gaming to drive innovation, nurture talent, and build the future of esports. This partnership is creating transformative experiences for everyone involved, and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of this extraordinary journey.”

College of Esports is also hosting a European Halo LAN in early 2025 too:

Related article: First University Halo League LAN at College of Esports becomes one of UK’s most-viewed student broadcasts on Twitch

Dom Sacco

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.