An exterior view of NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Texans, before a game against the Denver Broncos on December 8, 2019 in Houston.
NRG Stadium is set to make history this weekend, becoming the first of its kind to host a League of Legends esports competition.
The League Championship Series (LCS) has never held its marquee championship event in the state of Texas, but that changes April 23-24 when the 2022 LCS Spring Finals come to Houston.
League of Legends, a team-based multiplayer strategy game, was the most-watched esport in the world last year, according to Esports Charts. LCS is also the third-most popular pro sports league among 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S.
This weekend’s tournament, the first in an NFL stadium, is also the league’s first seasonal championship event of the year. The top three teams will compete for a trophy, a banner in the LCS Studio rafters, and an invitation to the international tournament in South Korea next month.
The esports industry is expected to generate nearly $1.4 billion in revenue by the end of the year, according to a Newzoo report.
A pregame Fan Fest is being held on NRG Stadium’s field, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The first match begins at 2:30 p.m.
Ryan Nickerson is a digital reporter covering trending news for the Houston Chronicle.
Previously, he was a reporter for Houston Community Newspapers covering the Bellaire and Memorial areas. Ryan graduated from Texas Southern University, enjoys riding his bike, is passionate about sports, and loves black and white movies.
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