QUEZON CITY--For the first time in seven years, esports is returning to an old home.
The Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan City has been officially revealed as the host of the MPL Philippines Season 17 Playoffs next month.
It marks the first time the said arena, home to the San Juan Knights in the MPBL and has also held various professional and amateur sports games for 20 years already, will hold a major esports event since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games esports tournaments.
It also marks the second straight season that MPL PH will hold its postseason matches in a major indoor arena after having the Season 16 Playoffs last November at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Unlike at the Astrodome, where capacity was limited to 2,000 per night, MPL PH will utilize the entire 6,000-seat capacity of the venue formerly known as The Arena in San Juan.
"This resonates with our commitment to bring a better fan experience to our audience. There are matches before in which we have already filled the venue, but the seats are still not enough for us to accommodate fans," said Lee Viloria, Moonton Games' business development and partnerships lead for Philippine esports, in a press conference before the start of the second round of the regular season on Friday at Victoria Sports Tower.
"Moving to a bigger venue, we are very happy to accommodate and be able to share the experience as well with our fans and our community."
Mandy Ochoa, the business manager for the Playtime FilOil Centre, envisions that there will be more MPL PH matches at the said arena in the near future.
"What we supply is a more permanent home, more future-ready technically for esports. We aim to connect the players and the fans into one venue," said the former actor.
The MPL PH Playoffs will literally end the month of May from May 27-31, but tickets for the postseason will be available by May 4.
