League of Legends powers up Digital Sports

eSports world championship draws 100+ million viewers, approaches US Super Bowl numbers

Needham promoted to LoL eSports global head

Accelerating the evolution of League of Legends into one of the leading sports and entertainment properties in the world

“We are currently in the middle of our ninth season with League of Legends esports, and when we look at the timelines under which traditional sports have evolved, over many decades if not centuries, we’re extremely bullish on what we’re creating,” newly appointed global chief John Needham said in a news release.

League of Legends

“At Riot Games, we believe that we’re well ahead of the curve and that esports are still only in their infancy.

“With player experience guiding us as it does all of Riot, we are building a global, sustainable ecosystem for players, teams, partners, and fans alike. We’re honored to be considered leaders in the esports space and believe it’s part of our responsibility to help shepherd it forward by investing in the right ideas, events and structure to help this sport reach its full potential.”