#China #Beijing #Hero Esports #Honor of Kings #KPL

Hero Esports Transforms Beijing's National Stadium into a Record-Breaking Mobile Esports Tournament

As the year comes to a close, Hero Esports is celebrating the remarkable success of the KPL (King Pro League) 2025 Grand Finals. Hosted by Tencent and organized by Hero Esports, this year's finals took place at Beijing's iconic National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest. With an astounding attendance of 62,196 fans, the event has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a single esports event. This achievement is a testament to the growing popularity and reach of esports, particularly in China, where the Honor of Kings game continues to reign supreme as the most-played mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game in the world.

The excitement surrounding the event was palpable, with tickets selling out in just 12 seconds. Attendees hailed from not only Beijing but from various provinces across China and even as far away as Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia, showing the tournament's broad appeal. In fact, less than 15% of attendees were local, underscoring the event's capacity to attract a diverse audience looking to engage with the mobile esports community.

The local economy also experienced a sharp boost from the event, with restaurant revenues in nearby areas soaring by 177% year-on-year, and hotel bookings seeing a 143% increase during the tournament. This economic uplift reflects the significant impact large esports events can have on host cities, a crucial aspect that organizers consider when planning future shows.

Hero Esports' venture into mobile gaming and the Honor of Kings series was a strategic move that CEO Danny Tang discussed in a recent interview. Reflecting on the company's founding nearly a decade ago, Tang highlighted their dual belief in the necessity for esports to evolve into a central part of sports culture and that mobile esports would lead this transformation. The choice of Honor of Kings as the pioneer title for this journey was significant, as it set the stage for Hero Esports to pioneer the mobile esports landscape.

Transforming the National Stadium into an esports venue was no small task, requiring careful consideration of the technology and ambiance needed for an immersive experience. Unlike traditional sports events, esports require advanced technological setups, including large-scale screens, high-definition visuals, and engaging fan experiences to enhance the viewing atmosphere.

In celebration of both the ninth anniversary of KPL and the tenth anniversary of Honor of Kings, Hero Esports staged a memorable opening ceremony that was a fusion of cultural expression and modern technology. Drawing inspiration from Han dynasty embroidery, the performance featured a mesmerizing embroidered dragon that was transformed into a 3D spectacle and concluded with a breathtaking augmented reality (AR) display. Utilizing ten mechanically operated screens, real-time tracking, and synchronized effects across 6,000 stage lights, this event set new standards for live esports productions.

The KPL 2025 Grand Finals has quickly become one of the year's most discussed esports events, garnering massive attention offline and online alike. Key moments from the opening ceremony, particularly the AR dragon segment, resonated widely, racking up millions of views and interactions across social media platforms, particularly Instagram.

Looking towards the future of esports, Danny Tang expressed optimism about the industry’s trajectory, stating: “This marks merely the first decade in the 100-year journey of esports. The KPL 2025 Grand Finals is a significant milestone and a new beginning, and we are excited for what lies ahead.”

Hero Esports, established in 2016, is recognized as Asia's premier esports organization, producing over 7,000 matches annually and engaging an audience of more than 800 million fans online. With its headquarters in Shanghai and over 1,100 dedicated employees, Hero Esports is not only an industry leader but also a global player, operating across 12 locations and eight state-of-the-art esports arenas. Their range of esports services includes tournament organization, marketing, and community engagement strategies to foster the growth of esports as a reputable and financially viable segment of modern entertainment.