NRG return to the LCS with acquisition of CLG

NRG CEO Andy Miller has confirmed the acquisition of CLG and their entire League of Legends infrastrucutre, including LCS players and coaching and the Challengers team. A full rebrand is underway, marking the end of CLG’s time in the LCS.

The history of the LCS and CLG almost goes hand-in-hand, as the org has been involved in competitive League of Legends since day one. With numerous LCS titles under their belt and a whole host of veritable legends who have played under them, CLG is among the most iconic teams in the scene.

Those days have now come to an end. After a series of layoffs across multiple divisions within CLG, it’s been confirmed that NRG have bought out their LCS slot. This marks the end of one of League of Legends’ oldest North American organizations.

Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., CLG’s parent company, will now own a noncontrolling equity interest in the new, combined NRG/CLG company following the deal, it was announced.

NRG last competed in the LCS in 2016

With the acquisition of CLG, NRG make a return to the LCS after competing in the league in the 2016 Spring and Summer splits. After a ninth-place finish in the Summer split, NRG had to play in the promotion stage, where they were unable to claim one of the three promotion spots. Shortly afterward, the organization pulled the plug on their League of Legends division.

NRG acquire LCS mainstay org CLG

With the acquisition of CLG, NRG add League of Legends to their list of esports titles. The organization also fields competitive teams in Valorant, Apex Legends, Rocket League and Overwatch (as San Francisco Shock).

A quick message from NRG CEO Andy Miller

We have some exciting things planned, and will be answering more questions in the coming week. pic.twitter.com/oODiBSAetz

— NRG Kia League (@NRGLeague) April 6, 2023

CLG’s name might stick around for a while because the transition still needs to be approved by Riot, but NRG CEO Andy Miller said that he fully plans to swap the brand to NRG. Still, NRG have vowed to honor CLG’s history by designing new blue game day jerseys for the team.

Miller also confirmed that NRG are keeping the entire League of Legends infrastructure, including the Challengers roster, LCS team, and all the coaching staff involved with maintaining an LCS squad that’s been on the up and up for the past year or so.

It is a bittersweet day. Some of my most impactful experiences were from my time with CLG. Subbing for CLG in 2014 with nien and the boys, long talks late into the night with @DevinNash @huhi and @aphromoo, league convos with @Zikzlol, skydiving with @DarshanU, and going to my… pic.twitter.com/h85yl2aa6N

— Thomas Slotkin (@Thinkcard) April 6, 2023

Thomas ‘Thinkcard’ Slotkin, a player/coach that has a storied history with CLG, lamented the loss of the org within the LCS but is optimistic that he and the rest of NRG will be able to carry on and do great things.

On Twitter, the LCS officially welcomed NRG back into the league: “We look forward to seeing the organization bring their dedication and passion to the LCS community.”

The LCS also paid tribute to CLG’s “incredible legacy” in the competition. “One of the founding members of NA LCS back in 2013, Counter Logic Gaming is an inextricable part of our history over the last decade, and an organization whose impact on North American esports cannot be overstated,” the LCS said.

This news comes just days after reports that TSM, another storied org in the LCS, could be selling its spot in the league amid financial woes. These two orgs are among the oldest in League history, having made a name for themselves over the years and even been part of a historic feud against one another.