TL;DR
- LLA relocates from Chile to Mexico City after just one season
- New partnerships with Azteca Deportes and Cinemex signal major media expansion
- Mexico’s position as second-largest Latin American esports market drives decision
- Brazilian teams face unique challenges due to language and geographic isolation
- Riot Games provides relocation assistance while modeling European league structure

The Latin American League of Legends tournament undergoes a significant geographical transition for its second competitive season.
Riot Games demonstrates strategic agility by relocating the region’s premier esports competition northward after a single year of operation in Chile.
This move represents one of the fastest regional relocations in modern esports history, highlighting the dynamic nature of competitive gaming infrastructure development across Latin America.
The tournament’s foundation emerged from Riot Games’ strategic consolidation of previously separate competitive circuits.
Prior to the 2019 season, the developer merged the Latin America North and Latin America South leagues into a unified championship structure.
This consolidation required an extensive evaluation and selection process to identify the eight elite organizations that would comprise the inaugural competitive field.
Each participating team faced the operational challenge of establishing competitive infrastructure in Santiago, Chile for the first season.
The rapid relocation decision after just twelve months demonstrates Riot’s adaptive approach to regional market optimization.
Riot Games secured significant media partnerships with Azteca Deportes, the sports division of a major Mexican television network, and Cinemex, a prominent cinema chain.
These collaborations represent a major advancement in esports broadcasting and audience engagement capabilities across the region.
The 2020 season will feature a dedicated studio facility at Mall Artz Pedregal in Mexico City, designed specifically to accommodate live audience participation.
The development marks a substantial upgrade in production quality and fan experience compared to the previous Chilean venue.
Strategic venue selection in a major commercial center enhances accessibility and mainstream visibility for the competition.
According to official announcements, Riot Games will provide comprehensive relocation support to assist teams in establishing operations in Mexico before the 2020 Opening Season commences.
Mexico’s established position as the second-largest esports market in Latin America, trailing only Brazil, provides significant growth potential.
Moving the tournament to this larger market environment promises to strengthen competitive quality while creating enhanced revenue opportunities for all stakeholders.
The relocation strategy aligns with Riot’s broader pattern of modeling regional professional scenes after successful European national league structures.
This approach facilitates more sustainable ecosystem development through improved market penetration and commercial partnerships.
Social media responses revealed predominantly positive reactions from most competing organizations, expressing enthusiasm for this new competitive chapter.
However, Brazilian teams voiced concerns about the geographical implications, as they operate within a separate server and tournament ecosystem due to language differences.
The Portuguese-speaking Brazilian competitive landscape creates natural isolation from Spanish-speaking Latin American counterparts.
Geographic limitations already constrain quality scrimmage opportunities, and repeated venue changes compound these challenges by disrupting established practice partnerships.
This dynamic illustrates the complex balance between regional consolidation and maintaining diverse competitive ecosystems.
Riot Games has not yet confirmed full roster continuity, leaving open questions about which teams will return for the 2020 season.
The rapid relocation underscores the evolving nature of esports infrastructure planning and the importance of market-responsive decision making.
For players and organizations considering competitive participation, understanding these regional dynamics is crucial for strategic planning.
Similar to mastering complex BF6 Weapons Unlock systems, adapting to changing competitive landscapes requires flexibility and forward-thinking preparation.
Just as strategic class selection in our Class Guide, teams must evaluate how venue changes impact their operational models and competitive readiness.
Action Checklist
- Evaluate operational budget impact of international relocation
- Establish preliminary partnerships with local practice facilities
- Develop contingency plans for player visa and accommodation logistics
- Analyze new market sponsorship opportunities and media exposure potential
- Create scrimmage partner diversification strategy to mitigate geographic limitations
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » LLA is relocating to Mexico in 2020 after one season in Chile Strategic relocation of Latin America's premier League of Legends tournament to Mexico City for 2020 season
