Riot Games opens Mexico’s first esports stadium for LLA
Riot Games has partnered with Cinemex and TV Azteca Deportes to open the first esports arena for the League of Legends Latin American League (LLA). To the benefit of all LLA players, they will now have the chance to see their favorite teams play live in their own country.
The LLA experience
On February 6, the CEO of Mexican media company TV Azteca held the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark their grand opening. This new arena will seat around 100 people with the addition of a competition area for 10 people. The unique space will also feature cutting-edge technology to create the best in-game experience for all players.
In a featured TV Azteca video, viewers can see the large stadium glowing with lights and bright PC screens. Another great feature of the arena is its surround sound system along with 300 square meters of LED screens. Additionally, there will be a dedicated space for commentators to narrate games in real-time.
Consolidation works: Our @riotgames LATAM team has opened the first #esports facility for LLA (Liga Latinoamerica) in Mexico, the premier @LeagueOfLegends competition in the region & 1 of 12 regional @lolesports professional leagues in our global ecosystem. Ty @TVAztecaEsports! pic.twitter.com/Auzzc5BQLx
— David Higdon (@davidhigdon) February 6, 2020
Translated by Daily Esports, the Director of Azteca Sports Rodolfo Ramirez gave some insight into the new experience.
“[This is] the first [Latin American] stadium that is completely dedicated to the people who live for and are passionate about video games. It’s perfectly designed for gamers, by gamers, with one objective: to transmit the best of esports in all of Latin America”
Brand new location
Riot Games will place this collaboration in the Arena Cinemex at the Artz Pedegral Mall in Mexico City. The plans to build this stadium had been in the works since September 2019. On the official Riot website, they hinted at some info for the upcoming event.
“We’ve closed an unprecedented multi-year deal with Azteca Deportes and Arena Cinemex that fortifies the long-term growth of the Liga Latinoamérica, allowing us to host a live audience studio in Mexico City, increase our production values, and reach more fans by accessing their media network.”
Chile had originally served as the location for LLA operations. Unfortunately, Riot Games felt the Chile HQ wasn’t physically big enough to accommodate their commitment to the LLA. They also announced the decision to relocate via YouTube.
A new beginning for Latin America
Overall, this is a great chance for LLA to dedicate more resources to its League of Legends region. We’ve translated the words of Ricardo Larra, the Director of New Negotiations at Cinemex.
“Mexico is number 12 in esports. To give you an idea, the ones above us are the ‘big ones’ and the most important. The United States, Korea, China. In Latin America, we’re number one, but globally, we’re number 12.”
The LLA is planning to host games for two seasons throughout the year. They will be the opening and closing games, hosted every Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM. The arena will distribute tickets for the first competition on February 15, priced at $149 MXN ($7.94 USD). Sales start on February 7, and the event will be 5 hours long. The LLA expects players to experience more competitions throughout the year.
