Riot Games announced Wednesday that the League of Legends European Championship will allow fans back into the LEC studio in limited numbers for the spring finals in their Berlin Studio. The news comes following Tuesday’s news that the Mid-Season Invitational 2022 in Busan, South Korea will also allow a live audience.
It has been almost two years since the LEC studio closed its doors due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Riot said the company is now confident they can ensure a safe environment for returning fans and are still taking precautions, hence why they’re limiting the number of people entering the studio.
We’re excited to be able to celebrate the #LEC Spring 2022 Finals in a one-off event with a limited number of fans back in the studio!
More Info: https://t.co/qcLvyJZ62e pic.twitter.com/xyRNblx5GI
— LEC (@LEC) March 30, 2022
Riot stressed the LEC spring finals crowd addition will be a “one-off event” and that “this is not a complete return to normality, but a cautious step in the right direction.”
“Although local COVID regulations are easing, we are still conscious about maintaining safety as we begin to return to normal operations,” Riot said in the statement. “Safety is still our No. 1 priority, so we are taking small, incremental steps to ensure that the reintegration of our much missed audience happens as smoothly as possible. Bringing fans back to the studio in a controlled manner has required a lot of planning and the 2022 LEC Spring Season Finals is the first opportunity we have to allow us to do this safely.”
The safety guidelines for the LEC spring finals are not set in stone as the current Berlin government regulations may change as the event approaches, but Riot said it will require attendees to be wearing masks unless they are eating or drinking and to practice social distancing.
Tickets sales will be live on Friday at 10 a.m. ET, 4 p.m. local time in Berlin, on the LEC Eventbrite page.
“The experience will be all-inclusive with snacks and soft drinks covered by the ticket,” Riot said. “Fans can also expect some activations (respecting social distancing, of course!).”
Community reactions to the LEC having fans back
With the long wait over for Riot to open the doors of the LEC studio to fans, the community took to social media to celebrate the occasion.
LETS FUCKING GO https://t.co/EAVhECv2bf
— Mikkel "Guldborg" Guldborg (@GuldborgReal) March 30, 2022
We missed you 🥺 https://t.co/FQ4GKfVkct
— Laure Valée 🇰🇷 (@LaureBuliiV) March 30, 2022
This is just amazing NEWS!!!
Glad neither Me or Jankos leaked it 😀 https://t.co/j80tf2SLvM— Michal Konkol 📸 #Blast Fall Finals (@KonkolMichal) March 30, 2022
Rona is not easy on us, but super happy that we are able to get fans back in the studio (even though its alooot of work).
See you at finals. https://t.co/S9ZHcno6Dm— Florian Bradel (@N30N_TV) March 30, 2022
Wait what no, everyone’s going to find my hiding spots https://t.co/iSKDQOC75q
— Alex ‘Nymaera’ Hapgood (@Nymaera) March 30, 2022
Finally ❤️ https://t.co/7bGF6azoNq
— Alex (@KOI_hehnal) March 30, 2022
I can't be the only one to have noticed that tickets go on sale on April Fool's Day? :^) #LEC https://t.co/NKkyHPnosq
— Joe Fenny (@HeyMunchables) March 30, 2022
