Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is fast becoming the home of esports in the UK, with its premier esports arena, Copper Box Arena, at the centre of this rapidly growing industry as it welcomes the World Series of Warzone Global Finals.

London’s third largest arena has already hosted major esports tournaments featuring popular games such as Apex Legends, League of Legends (LoL Esports), Gran Turismo, among many others, drawing in avid esports fans from all over the world.

• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park welcomes esports tournament World Series of Warzone Global Finals.
• The leading innovation campus, Here East, on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is now home to a thriving esports community and promoter Esports Engine.
• The global games market has more than doubled in value from $70.6Bn in 2012 to $180.1Bn in 2021.
• Hub of esports education with courses at Staffordshire University London based at Here East and College of Esports at Lee Valley VeloPark.

Copper Box Arena, managed by GLL, a charitable social enterprise and worker-owned cooperative, operating under the community-brand, Better will welcome the World Series of Warzone Global Finals on Saturday 16th September.

The world’s best Warzone players will battle it out live for a staggering $600,000 in prize money. The event will even include the iconic Solo Yolo event, which will see 150 Warzone demons go rogue, battling it out individually for a chance to claim the crown and a whopping $100,000 prize for the last player standing.

The last CoD event in London was back in 2020 when the London Royal Ravens held some of their electrifying home matches at Copper Box Arena.

The 7,500 seater arena’s flexibility enables it to accommodate the diverse event set-ups different esports events require from a full auditorium, to accommodating event and expo combined, from end stage to centre stage to projection onto the field of play itself.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a global leader in esports. The Park is harnessing this growing industry, becoming a hub for skills training and jobs in the sector, and helping to create a better, more prosperous London for all. The eyes of the gaming world will be on the Copper Box Arena this week, as tens of thousands of visitors take part in the exciting programme of events, with millions more joining in online.”

Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “It’s fantastic to be welcoming another esports event to the Copper Box Arena which has established itself as the capital’s prime esports venue. The esports cluster evolving here on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park drives huge opportunities for learning and jobs and makes a major contribution to the economy.”

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said: “It is wonderful to see the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s transformation into a vibrant hub for the esports community.  Home to world-class tech companies, leading educational institutions and creative businesses, Here East has long supported innovation in the gaming industry.  We are thrilled to be at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector, solidifying East London’s reputation as the leading destination for esports in the UK.”

Stuart Hutchison, General Manager at Copper Box Arena, said: “We’re immensely proud to be part of the emergence of esports. Copper Box Arena is rapidly becoming the home of esports in the UK after hosting huge tournaments such as League of Legends and Apex Legends already this year. We are now excited to be bringing yet another high-profile game to life in Call of Duty Warzone.”

Esports has garnered immense popularity, with viewership for events rivalling that of traditional sports, and the park is at the forefront of embracing this global phenomenon. As esports continues to capture the hearts of many, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is positioning itself as a leading destination for esports in the UK, offering a dynamic and cutting-edge environment for esports tournaments, athletes, and fans alike.

eSports powerhouse Stryda has again joined forces with Riot Games to announce the Stryda Valorant Nordic Clash championship. This much-anticipated tournament calls on gamers of all levels to showcase their skills against one another across the Nordic region.

Commencing in October and culminating in a nail-biting grand finale in December, the Stryda Valorant Nordic Clash tournament promises an extraordinary display of skill, strategy and intensity. This collaboration serves as a testament to the unrelenting commitment of both Stryda and Riot Games to elevate and celebrate the talents of eSports players.

New Addition: Clan Events

At the same time as unveiling the Stryda Valorant Nordic Clash, Stryda is thrilled to present a revolutionary addition to its platform, Clan Events. Launched this week, Clan Events offers a fresh and engaging competition format that not only provides users with a new level of activity but also serves as a way to qualify for the upcoming Stryda Nordic Clash. Clan Events centres around collaborative team play; members must unite their skills to accumulate points. The primary objective is for clan members to team up as a party of five (a 5-stack) and play Valorant matches. Victory earns the clan one point while a defeat results in losing one point. Clans then compete based on their accumulated points, vying for the top spot on the leaderboard.

Distinctive Features of Clan Events

Unlike Stryda’s existing competition format, Ladders, Clan Events boasts distinct characteristics that set it apart:

• Free participation: Engaging in Clan Events comes at no cost, ensuring accessibility for all users.
• Collective play: Clan Events emphasize collaborative play, requiring a team of five clan members to participate in each match.
• Unique scoring system: The scoring system is tailored exclusively to Clan Events, enhancing the competitive dynamics and fostering strategic gameplay.

This innovative addition not only widens the horizons for eSports enthusiasts but also introduces a new way for clans to prove their strength on the gaming stage.