The AFL and Riot Games have partnered for League of Legends: League of Origin, a premium Esports tournament that will take place in November 2018.
The tournament is described as an “all-star style event” that will feature professional players from Australia and New Zealand playing for their home sides.
“Esports is one of the most exciting emerging industries to come in and disrupt the traditional sports landscape. Riot are a respected and credible leader in this space, and this event will be a great opportunity to continue on that path. We will bring our expertise and insight to the competition, giving all-star players an opportunity to play with different teams, play in a different tournament structure and in a radically different venue environment,” AFL General Manager, Growth, Digital and Audience Darren Birch (above, second from left) said.
“Our vision is to progress the game of AFL and continue to help fans share in the experience of footy. Working with Riot is one step towards us learning new ways to connect with fans and enhance the complete digital experience,” he continued. “We’re excited to continue to learn and lead in this space with our new partner, Riot, and to work with our two AFL clubs already in this space, Adelaide Crows and Essendon Bombers, to build out player pathways and opportunities.”
“The AFL is a world class league, and leads Australian sport in many key areas. From fan engagement through to player welfare and development, they’re the gold standard. We aspire to the same levels of excellence for our pro players and fans of League of Legends Esports, so a strategic partnership makes absolute sense,” Daniel Ringland, Head of Oceanic Esports for Riot Games (above, second from right), added.
“The AFL and Riot are culturally aligned, both being firm believers in putting the fan and player experience first. We’re excited to be paving the way for Esports fans in Oceania.”
The date and location of the tournament have yet to be announced.
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