The League of Legends World Championship, commonly referred to as Worlds, is the annual professional League of Legends world championship tournament hosted by Riot Games. It is considered the culmination of each season and is the most prestigious tournament in LoL esports.
Worlds brings together the top teams from each of the LoL esports regional leagues, including the LCS, LEC, LCK, and more. The tournament typically takes place between September and November each year.
As LoL’s most popular annual esports event, Worlds draws massive online and live audiences. In 2022, over 74 million people tuned in to watch Worlds, making it one of the most viewed esports events of all time.
Naturally, tickets to attend Worlds live are highly coveted by fans. If you want to experience the electric atmosphere of Worlds in person, you’ll need to plan ahead and likely pay a premium.
Here’s what to expect for League of Legends Worlds ticket prices this year:
What’s included in a Worlds ticket?
Worlds takes place across multiple weeks and is held in various cities. The tournament begins with the Play-In Stage, followed by the Group Stage, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals.
Each stage of the tournament requires a separate ticket. When you buy a ticket, you get access to watch the matches for that particular stage held at the designated arena.
For example, if you purchase a Group Stage ticket, you’ll be able to attend any of the matches at that stage held at the assigned arena in the host city.
The matches are held over multiple days for each stage, and a single ticket gets you access to the arena for every day of that stage.
Worlds tickets also provide seating at the event, though seating quality may vary based on ticket tier. Higher-priced tickets typically come with better seats than cheaper tickets.
Food, drinks, and merchandise are not included with the ticket price. However, Worlds venues have concessions stands and merch stores for additional purchases.
How much do Play-In and Group Stage tickets cost?
The Play-In and Group Stages are held in large arena venues that can seat tens of thousands of fans. As a result, these stages have the most available tickets.
For the Play-In Stage, ticket prices have ranged from:
– $20 USD for upper level seating
– $60 USD for mid-level seating
– $100+ USD for floor/premium seating
Group Stage tickets have gone for:
– $40-$80 USD for upper sections
– $100-$150 for mid-sections
– $200+ for floor seats
These have generally been the price trends in recent years. However, prices can fluctuate year to year based on the venue, city, and demand. Fans should expect to pay at least $20-40 USD for upper level seating for Play-Ins and Groups.
What about Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals tickets?
As Worlds progresses into the knockout bracket stages, ticket prices begin to rise substantially.
The Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals matches are held in large stadium venues with high production value. These matches also determine the World Champion, adding to their prestige.
Here’s an overview of recent Worlds ticket prices for the final three stages:
Quarterfinals
– Cheapest seats: $60-$120 USD
– Mid-range seats: $150-$300 USD
– Floor/VIP seats: $400+
Semifinals
– Cheapest seats: $100-$200
– Mid-range: $250-$500
– Floor/VIP: $600+
Finals
– Cheapest seats: $150-$300
– Mid-range seats: $400-$600
– Floor/VIP seats: $800+
As you can see, the final matches can get very expensive, especially if you want floor or VIP seats. Prices also depend heavily on how popular the teams are that make it to the later stages.
When and where will Worlds be held in 2022?
For 2022, the Worlds schedule is:
– Play-In Stage: September 29 – October 4 in Mexico City
– Group Stage: October 7-16 in New York City
– Quarterfinals: October 20-23 in Atlanta
– Semifinals: October 29-30 in Chicago
– Finals: November 5 in San Francisco
This gives a good overview of the host cities and dates. Tickets will be available through the official LoL esports website. Usually tickets go on sale 4-6 months prior to the event.
Given the locations, especially for the later stages, expect ticket prices to be on the higher end of the ranges mentioned earlier. Popular teams from North America and fan proximity to the venues could drive costs up.
Tips for saving money on Worlds tickets
If you want to attend Worlds without breaking the bank, here are some tips:
– Buy tickets for Play-Ins or Groups. The first two stages have the most affordable options. Upper level seats can cost as low as $20-40 USD.
– Shop early. Tickets will be cheapest when they first go on sale, before demand drives up resale prices.
– Buy in packs. Purchasing 3 or 4 tickets together often comes with bulk discounting.
– Look for promos. Riot Games sometimes partners with brands to offer special ticket discounts for fans.
– Consider a partial event pass. These grant access to watch a portion of the event, not the full stage.
– Buy resale tickets close to event. Prices tend to drop last minute as sellers have trouble moving tickets.
– Join fan clubs. Riot may reserve ticket blocks for fan club members or offer them discounts.
Being flexible on dates and seats can also save you money if you can attend on less popular days or sit in the upper sections.
Estimated ticket costs for 2022 Worlds
Based on recent years and the upcoming North American locations, here are estimated price ranges for each stage of 2022 Worlds:
Play-Ins:
– Upper level: $30-$60
– Mid-level: $60-$120
– Floor: $150-$250
Groups:
– Upper level: $50-$100
– Mid-level: $150-$250
– Floor: $300+
Quarterfinals:
– Upper level: $100-$200
– Mid-level: $250-$400
– Floor: $500-$800
Semifinals:
– Upper level: $150-$300
– Mid-level: $400-$600
– Floor: $800-$1,200
Finals:
– Upper level: $200-$400
– Mid-level: $500-$800
– Floor: $1,000-$2,000+
These prices can fluctuate based on team popularity, venue capacity, and stage proximity. But overall, it provides a general idea of what to budget for 2022 Worlds tickets.
Conclusion
Attending the League of Legends World Championship live is the dream of many esports fans. With competitive teams and electrifying atmospheres, Worlds delivers a one-of-a-kind experience.
While tickets can get expensive, especially for the final matches, costs remain reasonable for the earlier Play-In and Group Stages. Fans on a budget can enjoy Worlds by looking for cheap upper level seats for these opening rounds.
With Worlds returning to North America in 2022, expect high demand and scarce ticket supply later in the tournament. Prices for the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals may exceed recent years. Planning ahead and shopping early will be key to securing affordable tickets.
No matter what seats you can get, seeing the best LoL teams and players battle for the Summoner’s Cup in person is a memory fans will cherish forever.
