VfB Stuttgart (VfB eSports) has officially been promoted to the Prime League 1st Division, the highest tier of League of Legends in the DACH region local ecosystem. The club will make its debut in the upcoming Spring Split, which kicks off on April 1, 2026.
The vacancy was created following the sudden withdrawal of A One Man Army (AOMA) Prime. To fill the slot, the league conducted a structured selection process involving three top applicants from the 2nd Division: VfB Stuttgart, CGN Esports, and MT1 (Metiz Esports).
Also read:
- AORUS joins VCT EMEA as official hardware partner through 2027
- Epic Games to lay off 1,000+ employees as Fortnite engagement dips
- Savvy Games Group signs MOONTON Games acquisition in $6 billion deal
The league revealed that the final decision between VfB Stuttgart and CGN Esports was “very close.” The two organisations offered distinct strengths: CGN Esports Stood out for their competitive setup and community engagement, while VfB Stuttgart excelled in organisational structure, scalability, and long-term planning.
Ultimately, the committee prioritised VfB’s “totality of criteria,” specifically their financial stability and professional framework—metrics that have become increasingly vital in 2026 as the industry navigates broader economic shifts.
For the DACH ecosystem and in a broader context, this move signals that traditional sporting institutions are still seen as a “safe harbor” of financial stability for esports and league operators. With this promotion, VfB Stuttgart joins a growing cohort of traditional sports giants in the Prime League 1st Division. They will now face off against organisations like Eintracht Frankfurt, Eintracht Spandau, and TeamOrangeGaming (affiliated with basketball team Ratiopharm Ulm).
Follow The Esports Radar on social media:
