• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park welcomes esports tournament Apex Legends back to Copper Box Arena for the second time this year.
• The leading innovation campus, Here East, on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is now home to a thriving esports community
• The global games market has more than doubled in value from $70.6Bn in 2012 to $180.1Bn in 2021.
• Hub of esports education with courses at Staffordshire University London based at Here East and College of Esports at Lee Valley VeloPark.

This month, the arena, which is operated by Better, the charitable enterprise, is welcoming back Apex Legends on July 13th - 16th, 2023 following the success of Split 1 Playoffs earlier this year. This time around, we’re bringing all competition to the main stage, meaning you’ll get to watch all your favourite team’s matches throughout the four day tournament.

There will also be more interactive fan experiences to the Copper Box concourse, including meet and greets, giveaways, and much more.

Esports Engine and EA, the two promotion teams have partnered up to bring 40 of the most exceptional Apex Legends teams from around the world competing in the Group Stage. During this stage, the teams will be divided into four groups, each comprising ten teams. They will engage in a thrilling six-match series against every other group.

The intensity ramps up as the Bracket Stage commences on Saturday. The teams will be ranked and placed into a double-elimination bracket based on their performance in the Group Stage.

Only the top 20 teams will progress to the highly anticipated Match Point Finals on Sunday, July 16th.

The 7,500 seater arena’s flexibility enables it to accommodate the diverse event set-ups different esports events require from a full auditorium, to accommodating event and expo combined, from end stage to centre stage to projection onto the field of play itself.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a global leader in esports. The Park is harnessing this growing industry, becoming a hub for skills training and jobs in the sector, and helping to create a better, more prosperous London for all. The eyes of the gaming world will be on the Copper Box Arena this week, as tens of thousands of visitors take part in the exciting programme of events, with millions more joining in online.”

Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said:

 “The Copper Box Arena has established itself as the capital’s prime esports venue. The esports cluster evolving here on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park drives huge opportunities for learning and jobs and makes a major contribution to the economy.”

It also marks two years since the publication of a landmark report by Here East and supported by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) which outlined a roadmap to create a world-class esports cluster that will drive job creation and bring an industry worth $180bn globally to east London. The innovation campus, based in the heart of East London, has been instrumental in promoting the sector and positioning the park as a hub for this rapidly growing industry.

The campus is home to a world leading production, broadcast, tournament, and program design hub, specifically serving the global esports community. As well as Staffordshire University London who are offering undergraduate degrees in digital courses, centered on the gaming and computer sectors. Lee Valley VeloPark, home to the College of esports, is also a key part of the growing esports cluster in the park, providing state-of-the-art facilities for esports athletes and enthusiasts.

Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said:

"We are delighted to see Here East at the forefront of the esports scene – driving innovation and fostering new talent in our community of leaders and visionaries. We are proud to be leading the growing industry of esports and gaming, future-proofing both our economy and our reputation as a global leader in tech.”

Miles Eady, Commercial Events Manager at Copper Box Arena, said:

"I am excited to see the rise of esports on Queen Elizabeth Olympics Park and hugely proud to be part of the emergence of Copper Box Arena as the UK's premier esports venue. The convergence of traditional sports and gaming creates a dynamic and inclusive space for all to come together and compete at the highest level."

Esports has garnered immense popularity, with viewership for events rivalling that of traditional sports, and the park is at the forefront of embracing this global phenomenon. As esports continues to capture the hearts of many, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is positioning itself as a leading destination for esports in the UK, offering a dynamic and cutting-edge environment for esports tournaments, athletes, and fans alike. For more information on venue hire at Copper Box Arena, please visit https://copperboxarena.org.uk/venue-hire.  

About the London Legacy Development Corporation:

Spread across 560 acres of stunning parklands, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is home to beautifully landscaped gardens, historic waterways, famous sporting venues, a vibrant arts and events programme and the ArcelorMittal Orbit visitor attraction.

As the new heart of east London, the Park is still transforming, providing homes, jobs and an unrivalled education and cultural district housing Sadler’s Wells, BBC, V&A East, UAL’s London College of Fashion and UCL East.

The London Legacy Development Corporation promotes and delivers physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the surrounding area by maximising the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For more information visit our website (QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk), sign up to our e-newsletter (QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk/subscribe), follow us on Twitter (@noordinarypark) and like us on Facebook (facebook.com/QueenElizabethOlympicPark)

About Here East:

Here East is a catalyst for growth and London’s fastest growing technology and innovation campus. Located on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, it is a launchpad for innovation and home to global technology companies, start-ups, academic institutions, content developers and creative businesses. It is now home to 6,000 people who work and study onsite. The 1.2 million sq ft campus fosters a unique environment allowing tenants to collaborate, scale and grow at pace. Tenants say that the collaborative environment has accelerated their ability to grow their employee base, increase their revenue and expand their offering.

Here East is home to three of the fastest growing clusters in the capital: esports, cybersecurity and the creative industries. There are 37 organisations based on the campus, these include: Plexal (Here East’s innovation and consulting centre), Fiit.tv, Sports Interactive, Esports Engine, Ford Smart Mobility, Studio Wayne McGregor, MATCHESFASHION and The Trampery on the Gantry, which provides 21 studios for local artists and designers. Here East is owned by clients of Delancey, a specialist real estate investment advisory company.

About Better:

Better was founded in 1993 as a charitable social enterprise with seven leisure centres in Greenwich.  In 1996 the social enterprise started expanding outside of the London Borough of Greenwich and now runs all kinds of community services and spaces across the UK.  Now renamed Better, over 250 public sport and leisure centres and 57 libraries are managed in partnership with more than 30 local councils, public agencies and sporting organisations. Membership to the organisations’ centres has increased to over 650,000 with 40 million visitors a year.