In an interview with journalist Travis Gafford, Esports director at Riot Games, John Needham explained that the owner of Golden Guardians, Golden State Warriors, decided to focus on basketball. Meanwhile, Evil Geniuses decided to leave LCS after financial issues.
John Needham said the offer to terminate the cooperation agreement with Riot Games was given to all organizations at LCS. However, the remaining 8 organizations have chosen to stay and have “confirmed their commitment”. All players of Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses will now have to hope to find a new team. Accordingly, there will be many cases without new stops in the 2024 season.
“We knew many problems a few weeks ago and gathered teams while the 2023 World Championship was happening to try to help the teams and players. Actually, we did not have the opportunity to do this sooner,” John Needham revealed.
John Needham also added that although Riot Games is considering different options for LCS, there is not enough time to fill the blanks that Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians left. That is why the tournament will continue with 8 teams.
LCS has spent the 2023 season full of difficulties, with the number of viewers decreased and the large number of players strike after changes for the second -class Challengers League (NaCl). After announcing the strike, the LCS player Association (LCSPA) also made a statement and called on Riot 'to balance the improvements to LCS and NaCl by 2024' and the two parties will work above to make decisions for long -term plans.
