From 31st August to 1st September 2024, the Olympic Hall in Munich’s Olympic Park transformed into a haven for esports enthusiasts from around the world. Here, the “League of Legends EMEA Championship" (LEC) Finals took place.
League of Legends is an engaging real-time strategy game where two teams of five players compete to capture the opposing team's base. Each player controls a unique character with special abilities, leading to a dynamic and tactical gameplay experience.
The Munich Olympic Park has served as a venue for various sports for over 50 years - starting with the Olympic Games in 1972, through many years as the home ground for the city's football and ice hockey clubs, to ski races on the Olympic Hill and car races in the Olympic Stadium. At the beginning of September, it hosted a sport that has hardly made an appearance before: esports.
Hosting the LEC Finals in the Olympic Hall not only brought athletic excellence to Munich but also significant economic benefits. The influx of fans from around the world—over ten thousand attended live across all three days, while hundreds of thousands watched the event via livestream - bolstered the local economy and created new business opportunities. “High tech, audiences, and players from around the world come together here in a celebration of play, fun, and passion. It’s a win for the city,” emphasised Clemens Baumgärtner, the city’s Head of the Department of Labour and Economic Development.
Maximilian Peter Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports at Riot Games, stated: “At Riot Games, we’re dedicated to providing fantastic experiences for our fans. The City of Munich completely understood this and helped us deliver many incredible moments for fans at the two iconic venues within the city; the Munich Olympic Hall and Odeonsplatz, where we hosted our fan-centered open-air LEC XPO. The collaboration played a huge role in making this the most attended LEC Season Finals roadshow ever, and ensuring the event was a resounding success. We can’t thank the city enough for their hospitality and support during the campaign.”
"In Bavaria, at least, we do not want to snooze through this development and passively watch how American and Asian markets redistribute the associated wealth. Our mission is to develop Bavaria into a top location for games on an international scale.”
Furthermore, there was recognition from the Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs: “The LEC Season Finals are a highlight in the „Year of Games”, proclaimed by the Digital Ministry. Today, gaming and esports are already significant economic sectors in Bavaria: there are 350 game companies employing around 3,500 people. Digital Minister Dr Fabian Mehring is keen to strengthen this future industry: “With an esports event, we filled the venues of the 1972 Olympic Games with people from across Europe – this event itself demonstrates the enthusiasm and cultural dimension that gaming and esports have long achieved.
The City of Munich was a great host for the LEC Finals, and Riot Games was a reliable partner that attracted large crowds to the capital. Together, we could put a European spotlight on our Bavarian "Year of Games" and further establish ourselves internationally as a premium location in the digital age. Games represent a billion-euro future industry that achieves pioneering work in creative pixels and acts as an innovation driver. In Bavaria, at least, we do not want to snooze through this development and passively watch how American and Asian markets redistribute the associated wealth. Our mission is to develop Bavaria into a top location for games on an international scale.”
The event showcased Munich's ability to successfully host large international events and illustrated how the city blends tradition with innovation. Such major events prove how sports competitions can have positive effects that go far beyond just the competition, by strengthening local infrastructure and connecting the city globally.
Another highlight of the weekend was the LEC XPO, which took place at Odeonsplatz in the centre of Munich. This free event allowed visitors to try out games, compete with professionals, and attend talks and demonstrations. “The LEC XPO highlights the importance of public events where the local population is actively included. This is something we need to continue to promote to further enhance Munich's clear competitive advantage over other destinations,” explained Benedikt Brandmeier, Head of Tourism, Events, and Hospitality for the City of Munich.
Franz Streckhardt, Senior Program Manager Esports, EMEA – Operational, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying: “Working with the Munich Convention Bureau on the League of Legends EMEA Championships (LEC) roadshow was a great pleasure. At every stage, their team displayed a prompt, personable, and solution-focused approach. The team understood the unique needs required to host an esports event and demonstrated an admirable readiness to question the status quo, guaranteeing we could accomplish our common goals. The Bureau's transparent communication and receptivity to feedback established a highly cooperative and positive working relationship. Their efforts to make the 2024 LEC roadshow a huge success for us, our partners, and most importantly, our fans were sincerely appreciated.”
The League of Legends Finals in Munich demonstrated that the city is also an excellent host for esports. When planning your next event, the Munich Convention Bureau is here to assist. Leverage our experience to make your event a special experience—neutral, free of charge, and tailored to your needs. For more information, please visit our website.
