Riot addresses VALORANT Champions Paris Group Stage venue choice amid debate

Global Head of VALORANT Esports at Riot Games, Leo Faria, addressed community criticism of VALORANT Champions Paris’ early-stage set-up, saying the decision to move out of a studio environment was driven by capacity and fan proximity.

Faria als acknowledged that some show elements ‘haven’t been up to our standards.’

In response to a viewer asking about the motive behind the stage design, Faria said Riot opted for a larger venue after feedback from last year, when group and early playoff matches were held in a tightly controlled studio setting in Seoul that seated roughly 250.

“We’re in a venue that fits up to 3,000 people, the largest we’ve ever had for the first stages of the tournament,” he wrote, adding that bringing fans closer to pros had been a ‘huge win.’

“Going to a studio gives us a more controlled environment for scenic, lights, LED, etc — resulting in a more polished show overall. But the tradeoff is size,” Faria stated. “We heard the community feedback and made a different choice this year, prioritising size.”

While defending the venue choice, Faria admitted that certain production elements have fallen short of Riot’s standards. The walkout sequences in particular have been identified as lacking energy, with the company already implementing changes to address these concerns. Some community members have suggested improvements including LED screens or map holograms to enhance the visual presentation for broadcast viewers.

Faria also provided context about the broader esports landscape, noting that most esports tournaments take place in small LAN environments without audiences, making larger venue events relatively rare in the industry.

For fans seeking larger-scale production values, Faria pointed toward the tournament’s finals weekend at Accor Arena. The venue, also known as Bercy Arena, can accommodate between 7,000 and 20,000 attendees depending on configuration.

The arena has previously hosted major Riot events including the 2017 European League of Legends Championship Series Summer Finals and the 2019 League of Legends World Championship Finals.