Tempelhof-Schöneberg becomes e-sports hotspot: Big wins as a pioneer!

Tempelhof-Schöneberg becomes e-sports hotspot: Big wins as a pioneer!

Berlin is increasingly developing into a center for e-sports, and the “Berlin International Gaming” (BIG) team plays a central role in this. Big, founded in 2017 and based in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, has established itself as one of the most successful E-Sport teams in Germany. Since its foundation, the team has won numerous national and international titles in various disciplines, which strengthens its status on the global e-sports stage. Bigleet GmbH, operator of BIG, is based in Mariendorf and also acts as the team's home training facility. This entrepreneurial structure significantly contributes to the success of the team because it creates optimal training conditions.

On September 12, 2025, district mayor Jörn Oltmann visited Dr. Ann-Kathrin Biewener, head of the district's business development agency, the company. During his visit, Oltmann emphasized the importance of e-sport as a promising industry for the region. He expressed the desire for better support from the e-sports sector in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district and in Berlin as a whole. In addition, he suggested organizing further e-sport major events to promote Berlin as an international e-sports hotspot. E-sport could not only bring sporting success, but also set economic impulses for the region.

E-sport in urban context

Berlin 2025 shows how e-sport is increasingly being integrated into urban life and culture. Teams such as Eintracht Spandau, founded by Maximilian “Handofblood” boy in 2021, are already experimenting with their own streaming team to intensify contact with their fans. Big remains a key player in the German E-Sport scene and won an exciting match against Eintracht Spandau in March 2025. Such competitions not only attract local spectators, but also international e-sports fans, which continues to strengthen Berlin as an event location for international events.

Media visibility in e-sports increases rapidly. Platforms such as eSportsinsider.de not only offer news about e-sports, but also betting options for various events. With the conversion of the former LEC Arena into the Riot Games Arena in January 2024, a central event location for top-class e-sports championships was created, including the League of Legends EMEA Championship and the Valorant Champions Tour EMEA.

The influence of e-sports on Berlin

Major tournaments, such as the League of Legends World Championship, reach the highest number of spectators-the Worlds 2024 final, for example, reached over 6.4 million simultaneous spectators. This underlines the global interest in e-sports and the need for cities like Berlin to position themselves as a production center for international events. G2 eSports, one of the leading organizations in Europe, has successfully won 16 League of Legends EMEA Championship titles and also achieved great success in Valorant.

Berlin is therefore not only a location for leading e-sports teams, but also a creative center that contributes to the development of the industry. The city attracts international visitors who attend e-sports events and engage with e-sports brands. This stream of fan tourism promotes the creative and economic importance of e-sports in the capital.

Overall, it is clear that e-sports is not just a sport, but also a cultural and economic phenomenon that is putting Berlin on the international e-sports map. The Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, and especially the BIG team, are examples of the developments that will be observed in the coming years.