Reading Time: 3 minutes
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the Copper Box Arena, is quickly becoming the UK’s leading destination for esports. This industry is growing rapidly. The arena has hosted esports events featuring popular games like Apex Legends and League of Legends.
- Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, hosts the epic League of Legends tournament.
- Here East, the leading innovation campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now home of a vibrant esports scene.
- The value of the global games market is expected to more than double from $70.6Bn (in 2012) to $180.1Bn by 2021.
- Here East is the hub of esports training with courses from Staffordshire University London and College of Esports based at Lee Valley VeloPark.
The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational will be held at the Better Arena, operated by the charitable enterprise Better. This is just one of the many high-profile annual events that take place at London’s third-largest venue.
LoL Esports, with its more than 860 professional players and 100 professional esports teams, is the fastest-growing global sport. It is available on more than 30 TV and digital platforms around the world, making it one of the most watched forms of sport entertainment in the world.
Flexible seating for 7,500 people allows it to be configured to meet the needs of different esports tournaments. From a full auditorium to combining event and expo, from the end stage to the centre stage, even projections onto the playing field itself, the arena can accommodate a variety of event setups.
Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London.
It’s obvious that Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park leads the world in esports. The Park is harnessing the growing esports industry and becoming a hub of skills training and employment in this sector. It’s also helping to create a more prosperous London. This month, the Copper Box Arena will be the focus of attention for the gaming industry as thousands of people take part in an exciting program of events. Millions more are participating online.”
Lyn Gardner, CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation said:
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a major destination for esports within the UK. Copper Box Arena, a venue that can host global spectacles for millions of people around the globe is ideal. The Arena is the premier esports venue in the capital .
This phenomenon is more than just the events. There are courses available for those who want to improve their skills, and there’s a growing cluster that offers a career within the industry. We are creating a ecluster which benefits London and the UK economy, as well as having an international reputation in this fast-moving high-tech industry.
Two years ago, a report published by Here East with the support of the London Legacy Development Corporation outlined a blueprint to create a world class esports industry that would drive job creation in east London and bring an $180bn global industry to the area. The Innovation Campus, located in East London, was instrumental in promoting this sector and positioning East London as a hub of this rapidly growing industry.
The campus houses a leading hub for production, broadcasting, tournaments, and program design, which is specifically designed to serve the global esports scene. Staffordshire University London also offers undergraduate digital courses centered around the gaming and computer sector. Lee Valley VeloPark is home to the College of esports and a major part of the growing esports industry in the park. It provides state-of-the art facilities for esports enthusiasts and athletes.
Gavin Poole is the CEO of Here East.
Here East plays a crucial role in defining how the next generation learns about esports and gaming, as well as the future industries. Together with our partners, the businesses and academics based on campus we are realizing East London’s potential as a global testbed for ideas that will power the future economy.
Miles Eady is the Commercial Events Manager of Copper Box Arena.
“I’m excited to see esports grow on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and I am proud to have been a part of Copper Box Arena becoming the UK premier esports arena. “The convergence of traditional sport and gaming creates an inclusive and dynamic space for everyone to come together and participate at the highest levels.”
Esports is a global phenomenon that has gained immense popularity. The park is leading the way in embracing it. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a UK destination for esports, is positioning itself to be a leader in the industry as esports continues capturing the hearts of people. It offers a dynamic, cutting-edge environment that will attract esports athletes and fans.
