Gaming
Esports
Get in the know with our esports tour guide to Paris
The French capital is an emergent esports destination, home to top quality tournaments and legendary clashes. We break down the venues you have to hit if you’re in the city of love.
Paris, the city of love, is well-known around the world as a dream destination, filled with culture and history. But the French capital isn’t just known for its pastries, bistros and lavish shopping arcades; it’s a rising esports destination filled with iconic arenas, esports bars and world class tournaments – and it’s also home to its very own Overwatch League team, the Paris Eternal. If you want to find out more, watch the recent Paris episode of Part of the Game in the player below:
8 min
Part of the Game: Paris
Find out how the city of Paris fell in love with esports in episode three of Part of the Game.
With a city filled with esports destinations, we’ve rounded up some of the most essential places you have to visit if you want to get your competitive fix – grab your map and a croissant, and check these places off your list.
Salle Wagram
39-41 Avenue de Wagram, 75017 Paris, France
History is made inside the Salle Wagram
© Hadrien Picard/Red Bull Content Pool
This grand ballroom is home to Red Bull Kumite, the yearly Street Fighter tournament that's held many epic battles under its roof. With an incredible cage set-up, this French venue has seen some of the fiercest fights to ever happen in Street Fighter V history, and this year’s competition was no different, when Fujimura took home the trophy after a win against Benjamin ‘Problem X’ Simon.
Meltdown Paris
6 Passage Thiéré, 75011 Paris, France
Meltdown have esports bars dotted in cities all over the globe, and Paris is no different, adding a French flair to the festivities – it’s actually the first city where Meltdown started. Located in the 11th arrondissement, with regular competitions, themed events and tournaments for fans to compete in; there’s something for everyone here, and you can join in just by simply popping by.
MILK E-Sport Arena
31 Boulevard de Sébastopol, 75001 Paris, France
Meltdown isn’t the only haven for would-be esports athletes; MILK E-Sport Arena also serves the community with a dedicated space where you can scrim with your team, or just chill out and play some of your favourite games. With a growing competitive scene, it’s well worth hanging out and playing against some of the locals – see if you can keep up.
Ultimate Fighting Arena
Bâtiment 139 87 Avenue des Magasins Généraux Aubervilliers, 93300 Saint-Denis, France
Taking place at the Dock Haussmann, Les Docks de Paris, the 2018 edition of Ultimate Fighting Arena showcased a high-level Street Fighter V event as part of the Capcom Pro Tour, where Amjad ‘Angry Bird’ Alshalabi reigned supreme after making his way through the rest of the competition during the weekend. If there’s a 2019 event, you can bet it’s going to be worth heading down to check out some of the finest fighters in the game.
Rainbow Six Siege – Six Major Paris
1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France
The Six Major has proven itself a killer event
© Ubisoft
French developer and publisher Ubisoft have been investing into their Rainbow Six Siege esports initiatives, and the Six Major in Paris was one of the highlights of the 2018 calendar. The 2018 event in the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles saw G2 Esports emerge victorious over Evil Geniuses, and you can bet there’s more to come in future events. With another Six Major set to take place in the city of love in early 2019, you can be sure it’s set to be another must-go event in the esports calendar for years to come.
League of Legends World Championship 2019
8 Boulevard de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France
With the 2018 edition of Worlds still fresh in our memories, Riot Games have already gone ahead and started looking to the future, locking down the venues where the next few World Championships will be taking place. Look no further than Paris for the 2019 edition, as Riot will bring the highest level of League of Legends competition to the AccorHotels Arena, in the French capital. We’ve already seen the local crowd go wild when All-Stars 2014 kicked off in Paris, so you can bet the stadium will be packed to the brim when Worlds touches down next year. While the details are currently sparse, look forward to seeing more high-octane action later next year.
