Raleigh Prepares to Host Three Major Esports Events This Year

The city of Raleigh is preparing to host three major esports tournaments this year with the help of the Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee.

The ESL One Raleigh 2025 esports tournament and the Rocket League Championship Series Raleigh Major are expected to attract tens of thousands of fans. North Carolina State University will also be in on the action, hosting a collegiate event.

ESL FaceIt Group will bring the ESL One Raleigh 2025 tournament to the Raleigh Convention Center April 7–13, with the best Dota 2 players competing for a $1 million prize pool. The 12 teams include those from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, China, the Middle East, North Africa, North America and South America.

“Greater Raleigh has emerged as a global hub for esports not just by hosting national and international events, but by encouraging and strengthening our local ecosystem of game publishers and local university esports programs,” said Loren Gold, executive vice president of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau and GRELOC co-chair. “Hosting these major esports events allow us to continue showcasing Raleigh on a global stage to an audience of over three billion gamers while strengthening our community’s connection to the largest segment of the entertainment industry.”

This summer, Blast will bring the annual Rocket League Championship Series Major to the Lenovo Center from June 26–29. Rocket League players will compete over four days, with the final two days of competition open to the public. The tournament will consist of 16 teams competing for a combined prize pool of $350,000.

Raleigh will also host the 2025 College League of Legends Championship and 2025 College Valorant Championship on May 31 and June 1 at North Carolina State University’s Gaming and Esports Lab.