12/03/2020 The LEC has now followed suit and announced that Origen will play online due to Danish travel restrictions.
The LCS and LEC have announced that fans and media will not be allowed to attend games at its studios in Los Angeles and Berlin, respectively, due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus.
LCS Commissioner, Chris Greeley, released a statement apologising for “disappointing” League of Legends fans but that it must put the safety of its staff and players first. Games will continue to be played and broadcast from the LCS studios, but “live audience, tailgates, and press will be barred from attending to minimise the risk of the virus spreading.
Greeley also says that the league is “continuing to assess the situation in Frisco, Texas” where the finals for the Spring Split are planned to be hosted. However, it is seeming increasingly likely that the finals will be moved to the LCS studios in LA – and most likely still be behind closed doors – as the amount of events across the globe in esports, sports, and entertainment increases. A decision is expected to made about the finals by next Friday, March 20.
An update from Chris Greeley, LCS Commissioner pic.twitter.com/ob7GhlROFU
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) March 12, 2020
The LEC has followed suit, putting a ban on fans and media attending its studios in Berlin for the rest of the Spring Split, including the finals.
Due to travel restrictions imposed by the authorities in Denmark, Copenhagen-based Origen will also now compete online for its remaining fixtures.
The LCK took similar measures last month as cases in South Korea grew, but has now suspended the league indefinitely. The LPL in China was also called off for a period of time, but has now resumed with all games being played online.
The Mid-Season Invitaional and the start of all Summer Splits across the main competitive LoL leagues have also been rescheduled, while Rift Rivals events have been scrapped entirely.
