Friday, July 17, 2026

Lessons from Building a Worldwide Esports Empire

In our latest Future of Sports episode presented by ADP, Chris Greeley, Global Head of League of Legends Esports at Riot Games, breaks down how one of the largest competitive gaming ecosystems continues to scale.

Greeley shares how Riot operates a global structure spanning 100+ countries, balancing league sustainability, team economics, and fan engagement across multiple regions. He also dives into the evolution of esports as a business, the importance of long-term stability, and how publishers are shaping the future of competition.

From expanding into new markets to refining league formats and revenue models, Greeley outlines what it takes to build a durable esports ecosystem at scale. He discusses the role of publishers in setting the foundation for long-term success and the growing focus on financial sustainability across teams and leagues, as esports continues to mature.

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