Final LTA North Split of 2025 Plummets in Viewership Compared to the LCS

The LTA North's weak viewership trend continues. A scene that once stood as one of the most vibrant settings for professional League of Legends on the planet is now struggling to find its footing, and an audience, after failing yet again to put up competitive numbers following the league's merger and rebrand.

Split 3 Viewership Woes in the LTA North

With the LTA North coming in to replace the LCS, it seems only fair to compare the two leagues (which are essentially one and the same). When it comes to viewership, though, the LTA North has utterly failed to live up to the LCS.

Credit: Esports Charts

Comparing the final split of the LTA North this year (Split 3 2025) to the final split of the LCS last year (Summer 2024) showcases just how much the new league is struggling with viewership. Here's a look at some of the most important number comparisons:

• Peak viewership:
  • LCS Summer 2024: 260,753 viewers
  • LTA North Split 3 2025: 159,144 viewers
• Average viewership:
  • LCS Summer 2024: 94,915 viewers
  • LTA North Split 3 2025: 75,219 viewers
• Airtime:
  • LCS Summer 2024: 105 hours 25 minutes
  • LTA North Split 3 2025: 62 hours 55 minutes
• Grand Finals viewership:
  • LCS Summer 2024: 260,753 viewers
  • LTA North Split 3 2025: 139,700 viewers

What these numbers essentially mean is that, compared to the LCS Summer 2024, this year's LTA North Split 3 has seen a 39% drop in peak viewership, 21% drop in average viewership, and a 40% drop in airtime. All the while, what should be the most important match of the split was watched by nearly half the amount of viewers of the previous year's Grand Finals.

*All stats were retrieved from Esports Charts.

A Rough Start for the LTA North

Back at the start of the year, the inaugural split of the LTA North proved incapable of putting up even a fraction of the viewership numbers seen by the LEC over in Europe. Then Split 2 came along half way through the year, drawing unfavorable comparisons to the LCS Spring viewership seen just a year prior. Now, the final LTA North split of the year fails to live up to the standards of the LCS once more as its numbers plummet across the board compared to those seen at the LCS Summer 2024.

Between an often far-from-ideal schedule for matches, formats lacking a proper direction, and a stage that was unavailable more often than not due to it being shared with VALORANT esports, the reasons for the LTA North's decline are plenty.

The truth is that general interest in the North American League of Legends scene has been dwindling for some time. The LTA itself was, in part, formed with the hopes of rekindling interest in said scene, though all it seems to have done so far is accelerate its demise.

As 2025 rolled by, the signs only grew more worrisome. Now, a hard question needs to be asked: what does the future hold for North American League of Legends?

Is the magic of the LCS lost forever? (Credit: LoL Esports)

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Robert Paul/ Riot Games

Read More: 

Breaking Down the Most Picked Champions of the LTA North Split 3

LEC XPO Returns!! Madrid to Host the 2025 Celebration

Worlds Meta Takes Shape! Winners and Losers of League of Legends Patch 25.18