The esports landscape in Raleigh, North Carolina, recently experienced a significant boost, with the 2023 LCS Spring Finals, generating an impressive $2.74 million in direct economic impact for the city. Today, Riot Games, in collaboration with Visit Raleigh, unveiled the financial implications of the highly attended event, which directly backed up 1,178 jobs in Wake County.

Recognized for hosting esports events in the past, Raleigh's PNC Arena was selected to host the 2023 League Championship Series (LCS) Spring Finals. The riveting tournament saw the North American League's leading teams—Cloud9, FlyQuest, and Golden Guardians—battle it out for the Spring Split title and the honor of representing North America at the upcoming international tournament in London.

Within the PNC Arena, the main event featured a tech-infused production spectacle that took the audience experience to unprecedented levels. LED floor panels, projection mapping, advanced pyrotechnics, and dynamic creative direction contributed to creating an immersive, state-of-the-art LCS roadshow.

Loren Gold, Executive Vice President at Visit Raleigh, stated, "It was incredible to witness the transformation of PNC Arena into a hub where the League of Legends community could come together and savor the best Raleigh has to offer. This is the first time a major esports publisher has hosted a festival of this caliber here in the Greater Raleigh area outside their ticketed event."

Riot Games' Esports Event Manager, Robert Dugan, added, "We’re proud to lead the way in delivering memorable experiences for esports fans. Our vision revolves around fueling fan passion through our roadshows, ultimately building a sustainable esports ecosystem. The LCS is fully committed to partnering with future host communities to cultivate their local fanbase and positively impact their economy."