H2K publicly accused Riot earlier this month of letting their greed ruin the EU LCS and all but demanded they pay EU LCS teams more money, or they would be leaving the league. Today, H2K compounded on this with a new letter that was more even-tempered while still telling Riot to pay over $7.6 million to ‘legacy teams’.

H2K’s last letter was filled with vague, difficult to prove claims about Riot’s spending as well as the financial status of LCS teams in EU and NA. This time around, their letter is a little clearer. It first points out that four of the biggest EU teams are seeking to leave Europe and urges that in this environment, the only path forward is for Riot to infuse “legacy teams” with over $7.6 million to stabilize them. Though the letter does go on to suggest how Riot could re-coup these costs, it does not offer any other alternative for success forward for the EU LCS.

As with the first letter, there are a few minor issues with H2K’s letter. H2K was correct that four EU teams – G2, Fnatic, Misfits, and Splyce – did apply for entry into the NA LCS. However, this is indicative only that NA LCS is more profitable, not that the EU LCS is not. None of the teams stated they would be insolvent or forced to leave if not admitted in.

As we covered in the last letter, Riot franchises can be much more profitable than promotion and relegation based sports because they offer a stability for sponsorship and investment. Interestingly enough, H2K doesn’t call for enfranchising the EULCS – which would probably go over poorly with fans anyway, but to have a “franchising system without franchising.”

What H2K fails to acknowledge is the effect a cash infusion would have on the entire European model. By giving only ‘legacy teams’ stipends of millions of dollars, they would essentially eliminate any possibility of challenger teams making it into the league. Legacy teams would be able to employ the best talent, training, and marketing while any challenger team would be left with a truly dead model. This is, coincidentally, an issue with current European sports. Many leagues are dominated by the top teams whereas American sports have far better profit-sharing for smaller teams.

It’s interesting to note that while H2K mentions revenue sharing, they are referenced only if the legacy teams receive their financial boost first. H2K also does not address any of Riot’s recently announced plans to improve the market and profits for teams. In this statement, Riot acknowledge many of the issues H2K and other regions are facing, and a more tempered letter from H2K might address these announcements head on.

H2K also fail to mention the efforts Riot has taken to promote their international teams. 2017 is not only the year of the most inclusive and diverse Worlds tournament, but it also saw more relevance given to MSI – which has a greater impact on entry into Worlds – as well as the first year of Rift Rivals, an event that tries to promote the rivalry that H2K says is necessary for EU to flourish.

As before, we agree that the EU LCS – and other regions – are not as lucrative as the NA LCS, and there do need to be better avenues for profit. However, H2K will have far better success moving forward if they can convince the fans or their fellow teams to join them with a more comprehensive tactic.

For now, there is little business sense in a cash infusion to the EU LCS, especially when no other team has stepped forward to back H2K’s claims. Unless they find a better approach, we may be bidding farewell to H2K.