VALORANT Esports Head Responds to Criticism of Champions Group Stage Venue

The VALORANT community raised concerns over the venue selected for the Champions Group Stage, pointing to production quality and overall fan experience.

Response From Leo Faria

Head of VALORANT Esports, Leo Faria, explained the reasoning behind the decision.

“Last year we hosted Champs groups and playoffs in a studio in Seoul, which looked great on camera, but could only fit 250 people,” he said.

“We heard the community feedback and made a different choice this year, prioritizing size. 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.”

Balancing Scale and Atmosphere

While the increased capacity has been welcomed, fans pointed out areas where the show has not met expectations.

Walkouts, in particular, were noted for lacking energy. Faria admitted these shortcomings and confirmed that adjustments are underway.

Looking Ahead to Finals Weekend

Faria reminded fans that most esports rely on smaller LAN environments for early stages and emphasized that VALORANT’s current setup represents a major step forward.

He concluded with a promise of spectacle at the biggest stage:

“If scale and spectacle matters to you, make sure to tune in for finals weekend at Accor.”