Invictus Gaming opens $20M private esports arena in Shanghai

Invictus Gaming opened a $20 million, privately financed esports arena in Shanghai’s Putuo District. The facility sits inside the Inzone Esports Industrial Park and started trial operations on May 12, coinciding with a League of Legends Pro League match between iG and Bilibili Gaming.

Investor Zhang Haohan posted on Weibo that the project took six years to develop and was completed without government subsidies or direct backing from major game publishers. Zhang described the build as “the lowest return-on-investment project” of his career and invited public feedback as the venue began trial operations: “Trial operations start on the 12th, and we welcome everyone’s feedback.”

Zhang also credited the 2023 IEM Katowice victory by Chinese StarCraft II player Li “Oliveira” Peinan as an inspiration that helped him press on during difficult phases of development.

The building covers more than 10,000 square meters and will host live matches, digital content production and regional broadcasts, including events such as the Immortal Cup. The site will also house iG’s content team operations and serve as a production center for broadcasts and other digital output. The arena adds a second dedicated League of Legends venue in Shanghai alongside the official LPL arena and includes space for third-party events and collaborations with streaming and media partners.

The opening comes amid a contraction in the Chinese LPL. A structured slot repurchase program reduced the league from 17 teams to 14 for the 2026 season. Recent departures include Rare Atom, FunPlus Phoenix and Royal Never Give Up, the latter leaving after eleven years and three Mid-Season Invitational titles.

Publishers and league organizers have discussed the costs of permanent, localized venues versus centralized or online formats. In 2025, executives at a major publisher noted rising costs tied to dedicated arenas, and Riot Games has examined expanded online stages for parts of its 2027 European Championship. Other organizations maintain or have opened home venues, including Ninjas in Pyjamas in Shenzhen, JDG in Beijing and Karmine Corp’s 3,000-seat arena in Évry-Courcouronnes, France, which also hosts events for multiple titles.

iG plans to use the new arena for its competitive and content activities and to generate revenue through event production, third-party rentals and media partnerships, including potential agreements with streaming platforms. The facility’s trial operations during a high-profile LPL match provided an initial test of its technical systems, audience procedures and broadcast integration.