College League of Legends and Valorant champs must pay for their trophies
As a dedicated gamer and esports enthusiast who has followed the collegiate scene closely for years, I can’t help but be disheartened by this turn of events. The recent incident involving Texas A&M University’s Valorant team and St. Louis University’s League of Legends team not being able to keep their championship trophies due to exorbitant fees is a stark reminder of the challenges that collegiate esports teams face.
Over the past year, students from Texas A&M University and St. Louis University, with a passion for college esports, have been balancing academics and competitive gaming. On June 9, an exhilarating moment came for five Texas A&M Valorant players as they triumphantly held aloft a radiant red trophy, having secured the College Valorant Championship victory. The day prior, St. Louis University League of Legends players celebrated their own achievement, lifting a striking red gem atop polished silver, symbolizing their College League of Legends Championship win.
As a gamer and member of the winning League of Legends team from St. Louis University, I was ecstatic about our victory and the prize money we received. But then came the shocking news – the trophies weren’t ours after all! We were informed that if we wanted to keep a trophy as a memento, each one would cost around $10,000. That’s a fifth of our $50,000 prize money!
I’m thrilled to announce that we, the St. Louis University League of Legends team, claimed the title of 2024 College National Champions. This is a historic first for our program! #SLUWIN | #ROLLBILLS | @SLU_Official
— SLU Esports (@SLU_Esports) June 9, 2024
“Upon discovering that club team TAMU would need to cover the cost of the trophy, given their lack of institutional backing, I felt deeply sad for them,” Vandenbree shared with TopMob. “Since there was no solution within Riot, I set out to explore alternative methods and potentially secure the students their well-deserved awards.”
The absence of a trophy to mark their victory doesn’t diminish the students’ impressive accomplishment, yet it deeply disappoints the players and team supporters. According to Pierce Ray, president of Texas A&M esports club, this triumph is significant for the dedicated esports players who have invested vast amounts of time and effort into their craft and their university. “These athletes have devoted countless hours to perfecting their skills, only to encounter an insurmountable financial barrier in the form of a paywall,” he expressed with frustration.
For over a month, neither team has managed to win a trophy. Vandenbree revealed that Riot Games no longer employs a team dedicated to scholastic esports; all members were either let go or reassigned. Prior to the layoff, Riot esports staff were advocating for the success of the program under GGTech, its third partner organizer. This included their efforts to hold the first college championship and award the winning teams with trophies designed by Volpin Props, a company known for creating video game props and esports awards.
I’ve reached out to both Riot Games and their tournament partner, GGTech, but haven’t received any response yet regarding TopMob’s request for a comment.
“According to Vandenbree, the appeal of scholastic esports over the professional level lies in its focus on the broader perspective. It’s rooted in camaraderie, contest, and preparing students for future achievements. The trophies serve as a testament to the students’ dedication and an enduring reminder of their victories for their school and town. They also inspire others who aim to take part next year.”
He added: “I don’t want them to become disappointed adults at an early age, so they still have the rest of their lives for that.”
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2024-07-25 21:18