League of Legends First Stand 2026 will be hosted at the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo. The in-house venue, primarily used for Brazil’s domestic league, seats roughly
140 spectators, a number that led fans to question whether the scale of the event matches its status as the first international competition of the 2026
LoL Esports’ season.
The choice of the hosting venue’s capacity for First Stand 2020
quickly sparked a debate online. Many fans anticipated an arena event that would match the scale traditionally associated with Riot’s global competitions. Instead, the decision to use a studio-sized venue led to questions about ambition, investment, and the perceived importance of First Stand for Riot.
Riot wants flexibility
In response to the criticism, Riot Games’ Global Head of
League of Legends Esports, Chris Greeley, addressed fans’ criticism
in a message to Mais Esports. “
That feedback is fair, and it’s something we take seriously,” Greeley said, acknowledging community frustration before he explained that the decision was rooted in practicality and long-term planning.
“Part of the purpose behind hosting First Stand in our own studios is flexibility. It allows [Riot] to experiment with format, scheduling, and timing in ways we simply can’t with larger arena events that require long lead times and early lock-ins.”
According to Greeley, Riot plans to reevaluate the event’s structure after this year’s First Stand takes place, stating that the company will take a “hard look” at the event’s role in the international calendar, with more details expected later in the year.
Past International Events in Brazil
For Worlds 2024, Riot opted to
host the majority of the tournament at its Berlin studio, prompting similar discussions about the event’s scale at the time. While it was a different region, the reasons behind that choice were similar to todays’.
But for a more localized comparison, the last major Riot international event held in Brazil was
VALORANT LOCK//IN São Paulo in 2023, which took place at the
Ginásio do Ibirapuera—a venue capable of hosting around 10,000 fans.
On the
League of Legends side, Brazil previously hosted the
Mid-Season Invitational 2017, with matches split between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. At the time, the play-ins stage was hosted in Riot’s Studio, while the group and playoffs at the Jeunesse Arena.
What Riot Looks for in a Host Venue
When selecting locations for international competitions, Riot typically evaluates several logistical and strategic factors. Transportation access is key to ensuring teams and fans can travel easily to the venue hosting the event. Adequate hotel capacity close to the venue for players and staff is also part of the priorities to consider. Technical infrastructure, accessibility for fans, and the local League of Legends community also weigh heavily in the decision-making process.
Ultimately, while the criticism surrounding First Stand’s venue is understandable, context matters. As the first international event of the season, it may serve more as a competitive and structural testbed than a full-scale Worlds-level event.
Author’s opinion:
“From another angle, the choice of a small venue for LoL Esports’ first international event of the year may reflect a broader shift in how value is measured in modern esports.
Live attendance is still valuable important, but online viewership—particularly through official broadcasts and co-streamers—now represents a much larger share of overall revenue. In practical terms, having five high-profile co-streamers broadcasting to massive digital audiences from the event’s location may generate more impact than several hundred fans inside the arena. While that may be disappointing for those whom the product should cater to, it would fit with Riot’s recent emphasis on personality-led broadcasts alongside pure competition.
It is also important to consider local realities. Brazil has an exceptionally large and passionate esports community, but its in-person attendance can still be affected by factors such as ticket availability, travel distances within the country, and match days taking place during the work-week.
Considering all this, hosting First Stand in a smaller studio may be a calculated decision focused on maximizing global reach and operational efficiency, rather than reflecting a reduction of Riot’s ambitions.”
