The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) is set to return with its Summer Split regular season on June 14, after a two-week delay. This time, the regular season will sport a new format and will be held over a span of six weeks. As per the restructured schedule, matches will now take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, starting at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET at the Riot Games Arena.
More information concerning the Summer Split, such as the revised match schedule and ticket details, will be accessible on Lolesports.com starting from 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET on Friday, June 9.
The decision to delay the Summer Split was not an easy one, explained Naz Aletaha, the Global Head of LoL Esports. However, it allowed for meaningful dialogue between the league, the LCS Players Association (LCSPA), and the participating teams to realign their shared vision for the future of LCS and NACL. Aletaha expressed gratitude towards LCS fans, players, and teams for their patience during this period and conveyed eagerness to see the players back on the LCS stage.
Throughout this hiatus, representatives from the LCS, LCSPA, and a delegate from the 10 LCS organizations engaged in extensive discussions on a variety of topics concerning LCS and NACL players. The outcome of these deliberations, based on financial scalability and sustainability for all parties involved, led to several key resolutions.
Notable among these were the establishment of a new North American Challenger League (NACL) business model, on top of a previously committed $300,000, aimed at fostering long-term sustainability by sharing revenue between the tournament operator and the participating teams. Additionally, improvements were made to the NACL governance model, including the introduction of a Team Participating Agreement (TPA) and a vetting process for the team organizations.
Furthermore, certain protections were put in place for players, such as a minimum 30-day notice and severance requirement for those earning up to 1.5 times the league minimum salary, and a minimum two-week termination notice for non-resident LCS players. In addition to these, a working group was formed between teams and the LCSPA to optimize scrim schedules better.
Other significant changes include the reinforcement of healthcare insurance requirements for international LCS players upon their arrival in the U.S., and the fine-tuning of working procedures between the LCS, LCSPA, and teams to foster continued discussions about improving the competitive landscape in North America.
Senior Director, Esports, Americas, Raúl Fernandez, further highlighted the excitement around the return of the LCS. He stated, “The LCS Summer Split kicks off Wednesday, and we’ll build toward the Final at Prudential Center in August and Worlds this fall.” He reassured that the primary commitment remains to deliver the best of League to the North American community, and continuous evolution of the LCS is on the horizon with that goal in mind.
Source: LoL Esports
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