T1 is set to bring back Home Ground, this time hosting a VALORANT match at Inspire Arena on a Saturday, where they will invite another team to compete in front of their home crowd.
SOUTH KOREA – T1 CEO Joe Marsh revealed in an interview with PF Sports that the organization plans to bring back Home Ground, a large-scale fan festival, in 2025. This year’s edition will feature official League of Legends and VALORANT matches at the 15,000-seat Inspire Arena, the same venue that hosted the VALORANT Champions Seoul finals.
“We’re really excited about it. I think you’re looking at League on Friday and Sunday, and then VALORANT on Saturday, so [I’m] really excited about selling out that venue for three nights,” Marsh shared.
The plan would allow the Korean powerhouse to host its own event while potentially incorporating a scheduled VCT Pacific match—this time in a significantly larger arena packed with their home fans. If it goes through, T1 would be the first VCT Pacific team to host an official match outside the league’s standard venues. However, Marsh clarified that T1 is still awaiting confirmation from Riot Games and VCT regarding the VALORANT portion of the event.
“They haven’t been finalized just yet. VALORANT’s side is a little different. We’re kind of waiting on the VCT, kind of see who will be afforded to us. Obviously, if I got to pick who I wanted to play for VALORANT, ZETA DIVISION would be a really great one. They have a huge fandom in the Pacific, and I think they’ve been great to work with. We’ve done some stuff with them in the OFF//SEASON. They’ll be my first kind of choice, just because that what they can bring. They can bring a lot of fans to the event.”
He added, “And then if I had to pick somebody else, it would probably be Paper Rex, who we’re playing tonight when this is being filmed [January 20th during VCT Pacific Kickoff]. Third, our neighbours in the alley a couple of blocks away, Gen.G. [It] would always be nice to beat them.”
However, T1 VALORANT are already set to face ZETA DIVISION in the opening week of the VCT Pacific Stage 1 Regular Season, as both teams are part of Group Omega. Meanwhile, Paper Rex, Gen.G, DRX, DetonatioN FocusMe, Global Esports, and BOOM Esports are in the opposite group, meaning potential matchups could only happen in the playoffs or Stage 2, scheduled between July and August.
The inaugural edition took place last June, with T1 selling out 7,000 tickets at Goyang Sono Arena. The event featured an LCK Summer match between T1 and KT Rolster, headlined by Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, while T1 Academy faced off against KT Rolster Challengers.
The event also featured various halftime performances and special guest appearances from celebrities, including actress Park Bo-young, singer Ailee, actress Kim Ga-yeon, MONSTA X’s I.M, CRAVITY’s Wonjin, Lovelyz’s Seo Ji-soo, and model Han Hyun-min.
T1 isn’t alone in this approach. In the EMEA region of League of Legends, Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI are also bringing their matches to France and Spain, respectively, as part of the LEC Roadtrip this April and May.
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Cover photo courtesy of T1LoL
