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Why is the LoL Championship only $1m to win?

McHaten·9/29/2015, 12:17:26 AM·2 votes·1,494 views

So i was thinking, why would teams want to keep playing professional LoL when there are other games out there (DOTA 2) where the champion team won almsot $7m. Both have 5 members + staff, yet LoL only get $1m and Dota gets almost $7m.

Now I know how they got that much. The original purse was around a mil, but then a percentage of all of the championship (The International, as it is called) content was put into the money pool. Riot does a champion skin set and champion content every single year. Do the teams get part of that as well or does the champion skin set get a percentage?

My only guess is that LoL pays better year-round, while others are more tournament based. As well as having more notoriety with streaming and whatnot. Now, I know all too well how Riot is all about the money, but I mean come on, when each player gets a million or so for winning and all the time they put in for one game, then you get maybe 100k for the other, why would new pros and players want to strive for the 100k instead of the 1m? Let's be honest, most pro players are in it for the win, but they wouldn't be there without the money. Money is usually the main source of motivation to get better and keep playing, and you only get the money if you win.

12 Comments

Earl Eulrich9/29/2015, 12:21:54 AM1 votes

why does anyone run hurdles when running 100m is easier and gets you more money and attention?

don´t just focus on money...

(and even if you do, don´t just get blinded by one big pot for a few lucky guys, lol-esports sort of gurantees at least a salary for the whole split, even if you don´t win a major tournament - dota does not)

Sarutobi9/29/2015, 12:22:40 AM1 votes

they could be under contract. I mean when you think about it, 1mill isnt a lot of money when you put into account the expenses. Granted most of those pro players are streamers so they basically see all their income from donations from their viewers. But even then they need plane rides, hotel fees to get and attend to these events. plus food/car payments since its usually at a stadium its not like there are hotels right next to the event.Plus majority of their income from winning a tournament usually ends up going to the manger/owner of the team so i highly doubt they get even half of that money split into 5 per player!

McHaten9/29/2015, 12:29:45 AM1 votes

Exactly, probably half of the $1m goes to the owner and staff, 25% to the expenses, and 25% to players. Each player probably gets different amounts based on their contract, which is also based on their "value" to the team. The bigger play-maker/asset you are to the team, the bigger percentage that you get.

Take into account streaming, media appearances (if that's even a thing yet in E-Sports), sponsors, and other stuff, League probably has a bigger, steadier payout.

I am saying Dota came up with a great solution in putting a percentage of the earnings from the content into the prize pool. It gets the fans into it more and gives the players and teams more incentive to play better.

TurquoiseYoshi9/29/2015, 12:47:28 AM1 votes

League gives a full salary. That's pretty much why. They want to win, in the same way that NFL players want to win, even if they are paid a lot, because they just like competition and they like winning. And because they get a bonus from winning top tourneys.

SLangedEdge9/29/2015, 12:54:46 AM1 votes

Unless you have a actual financial breakdown of what players make in both LoL and Dota, this is a hard comparison to make.

I'm almost certain that Ti5 top 8 winners have made more in that one tournament than the entirety of LoL. I remember seeing the posts about the poorest of LoL player not being able to maintain a living wage. Streaming and sponsors don't pay very well if you can't win.

As for hurdles and the 100m, the hurdlers don't have the outright speed to compete with the 100m sprinters hence they stick to their sport. While the 100m sprinters might not have the coordination or desire to train for hurdles.

I'm assuming LoL pros don't make the jump to dota cause the transition is just too hard for them. The game may be much harder for them to compete at that high of a lvl. Or simply its too different for them to be effective.

SLangedEdge9/29/2015, 1:07:39 AM1 votes

The last information i saw on forums, it was estimated at 25k/year each to something like 200k/year (per team to be divided by their team). Like i said, you are broke if you can't perform in the LCS. (rightfully so).

JimmyNtheKudos9/29/2015, 3:22:05 AM1 votes

Each team gets funded a certain amount, and each player is paid a salary. This is why. Also, many of these players have tons of sponsors + streaming and they make a ton of money.

Cripple Oracle9/29/2015, 5:11:25 AM1 votes

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https://twitter.com/WhizdumTwit/status/648725576455471104

Arrohe9/29/2015, 1:18:08 PM1 votes

As far as I understand it, LOL players get a salary and free room/board probably travel as well to tourneys, DOTA players do not, the need to win tourneys to get paid. I am probably wrong, but that is what I have seen on boards in the past when this topic was brought up.

SLangedEdge9/29/2015, 6:58:07 PM1 votes

If they can create a league similar to NFL/NHL/NBA/MLB, but its damn near impossible without the support of TV contracts etc. If they can't efficiently support a league similar to those, they might as well have the pay schedule more akin to PGA/Tennis etc. The best players in the world continue to play cause they win tournaments. The tournaments and sponsorships should be enough to keep players well off. The "bad" players struggle to reach that situation, if they can't be successful they just retire. They're playing a game, there doesn't need to be any need for a decent living wage. If the prize pool is big enough people will come out practice and attempt for that glory.