- Schalke 04 has officially finalized the sale of its LEC slot to Team BDS
- The slot goes up for $31.5 million, more than triple the amount it was bought for in 2019
- Team BDS is excited to be stepping in the shoes of Schalke 04 and hopes to reach the highest LoL competitive levels
After Schalke 04 teased the news, it's dropping its League of Legends spot in LEC, and the team is finally transferring the slot to Team BDS.
Team BDS to Step in Schalke 04's LEC Shoes
After attempts to save the franchise's slot came to a halt, Schalke 04 has finalized the sale of its League of Legends European Championship (LEC) slot to Team BDS, a Swiss esports organization with the ambition to make its mark on competitive League of Legends.
Schalke 04 cited various reasons and not least financial challenges brought on by the pandemic as one of the main motivators of shedding the esports arm, which has not perform too badly, but then again, has not brought in many successes either.
The soccer club reportedly sold the spot for $31.5 million, a hefty price tag to fetch on the spot in a competitive video game. Yet, the LEC does not necessarily have the most expensive franchise spots.
The Overwatch League and Call of Duty League are reporting selling spots at $40 million – $60 million, although these are speculative numbers reported by media outlets. No actual information about the costs of such slots exists publically.
Speaking of costs, LEC's sale was a significant improvement on the $9.5 million Schalke 04 paid in 2019 to acquire the slot, again according to unconfirmed reports. In the three years since, the valuation of such spots has increased significantly, reflecting a broader trend in competitive video gaming.
Replacing Schalke 04 at the Helm Takes Time
Team BDS' entry into the LEC was not entirely easy. The team was vetted by both Riot Games and FC Schalke 04 as a potential successor for five months. However, the organization is confident that it has made the right choice, arguing that it was an important next step for the team.
“This really is the next step for BDS, and we hope to feature among the best in League of Legends,” added Team BDS Head of Strategy Alexandre Lopez. BDS was happy that both FC Schalke 04 and Riot Games had put their trust in the team.
BDS currently competes in several disciplines, including Rocket League and Rainbow Six Siege. It's only getting started with League of Legends, one of arguably the most challenging games in the competitive gaming space.
Team BDS Executive Director Renaud Pierre Baijot welcome the news and said that the organization would humbly follow in the footsteps of Schalke 04 but seek to conquer the highest level of competitive League of Legends play.
