MediaCity has revealed details of its work to host the eChampions League Phase and Knockout rounds. Taking place between 14-17 May, more than 30,000 sq ft of studio space was transformed into a fully integrated live esports production hub.
Produced by Whisper, the tournament, which brought together Europe’s top EA SPORTS FC competitors, was broadcast globally across YouTube, Twitch and social platforms. The event marked the second time MediaCity has hosted the production, strengthening the facility’s position as a destination for digital-first live productions, enabling operations, live galleries, post production workflows and more within a single, interconnected environment.
Emma Leone, production executive at Whisper said, “What we’re building with EA Sports and MediaCity is a blueprint for what premium esports production looks like in the UK. The scale, the infrastructure, the connectivity—its broadcast-grade live television applied to a completely new generation of sport. The eChampions League Group Stages are a statement of where competitive gaming is heading and Whisper are excited to be the team bringing it to life.”
Andy Waters, head of studios at MediaCity, added, “Esports productions demand a very different type of studio operation, not just technically, but experientially. EA wants players, fans and online audiences to feel the scale and atmosphere of a major live event the moment they walk into the space. The advantage is we can deliver that entire environment cohesively, without productions having to split teams and operations across multiple locations. That flexibility, combined with the strength of our technical teams and broadcast infrastructure, is a big reason why productions like this are returning and growing here.”
The production reflects MediaCity’s continuing evolution amid growing demand for premium streaming-first production facilities alongside traditional broadcast workflows, said the company.
