League ApS, the current tournament organiser for the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), has informed Riot Games that it is no longer in a position to operate the league.
The announcement, made via the official League of Legends UK, Ireland & Nordics account on X, leaves the upcoming Spring Split in a state of uncertainty just weeks before its scheduled start at the end of the month. Riot Games is currently assessing the situation to ensure continuity for the League of Legends ecosystem in the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics, following a period of severe financial instability and commercial struggle for the operator.
The collapse comes after League ApS struggled to maintain the commercial viability of the league despite record viewership in 2025. In an official statement regarding the withdrawal, the League of Legends UK, Ireland & Nordics team noted: “League ApS, NLC’s tournament organiser, has informed us that they are no longer in a position to operate the league. We are actively assessing the situation and aligning on next steps to ensure continuity and stability for the competition.”
The news follows a turbulent period for the NLC, which in February issued a comprehensive statement acknowledging payment delays to talent and a significant investment shortfall. While the previous season saw a surge in interest—largely driven by the popularity of teams such as Los Ratones—the league failed to achieve a sufficient commercial return on its 2025 investments. These expenditures included arena events in Nottingham, Copenhagen, and Stockholm, alongside expansive fan expos.
Despite settling original invoices with the support of larger creditors, the NLC also faced community backlash regarding changes to its broadcast format and on-air talent roster. The league had initially committed to shifting toward a more traditional broadcast approach following the Winter Split, but the withdrawal of League ApS suggests that the organisation could not secure a long-term path forward.
Riot Games has stated it will share more details regarding the future of the competition and the path ahead for the Spring Split before the month concludes.
The recent end of the Los Ratones project, which drove record viewership to the NLC, is also believed to have impacted the league’s commercial sustainability and appeal to stakeholders.
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