Per sources of Sheep Esports, the Belgian squad Once Upon A Team, the Dutch team Dynasty, and the Luxembourgish organization Rift Sloths are set to join the 1st Division of the Elite Series: League of Legends (ESLOL) in 2024. Continuing its recent efforts to bolster its grassroots scene, the league is set to promote three organizations that previously competed in its 2nd division.

New Blood in the ESLOL

Following major changes in its participants throughout the past competitive year, the Benelux ERL is set to continue its efforts to embrace and reinvigorate the region's grassroots scene. Having already welcomed organizations such as A One Man Army and Myth Esports in April, or even ZennIT back at the start of the year, the league is now promoting three staples of the region's lower divisions.

Back in September, Dynasty was the first team to lock its spot in the Benelux ERL by winning the region's promotion tournament. Having had its application greenlit by the league's organizers, they are now poised to make their return after spending two years in lower circuits. In the past, the team was known to have a strong focus on local talents, most notable for its impressive run back in the spring of 2021 when Dynasty finished in 1st place of the Dutch League's group stage with an all-Dutch line-up. Fighting its way back through the league's secondary division, Dynasty will represent both one of the newest and longest-standing organizations in the region. While the team is still figuring out its final plans for the coming competitive year, sources have indicated that most of its players from the 2023 season will not continue with the organization next year. Further information revealed that bot laner Luc "DarkUniQ" Biesaart will be stepping down from the team's starting roster as he no longer has the time to compete.

While unsurprising to local fans, sources of Sheep Esports now confirm that Rift Sloths will be the second new organization to be promoted next year. While the promotion tournament originally only accounted for a single promotion due to the disbandment of Northern Lions Esports, the sudden departure of former league champions KRC Genk Esports opened up a second spot for the Luxembourgish organization. Proving dominant over the past two years in the region's lower circuits, the Luxembourgish organization is set to represent their country for the first time in the ESLOL following strong performances in 2023. Having executed a perfect 14-0 run in the summer split and having won the summer playoffs against Dynasty, the organization proved itself as a major contender in the Benelux, despite falling short against their rivals in the promotion tournament. When asked for comments, the organization responded that they see themselves as underdogs of the league for now. Clarified further, they explained that they expect to start slow while potentially ramping up over the year. The organization currently aims to reach the top 4 of the league at least once this year while also aiming for the EMEA Masters.

Most surprising is the addition of Once Upon A Team, set to take over the spot previously held by HEET, according to sources from Sheep Esports. First qualifying for the Belgian Tour in the summer of 2022, the team has been a major player in the Belgian local scene for the past two years. Despite not achieving great competitive results last year, the organization is most known for providing French broadcasting solutions to the league and for being an organizer of its own amateur league called the "OUATventure." When reaching out for comments, the organization responded that it first aims to stabilize its operations in the upcoming season. While the team started its off-season around the same time as others, their particular situation has proved challenging for OUAT's inaugural off-season. The organization still hopes to form a serviceable roster while focusing on its future in the league.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Recent times have not been kind to the Benelux ERL. Having first lost LowLandLions, KV Mechelen Esports, and Sector One at the start of the year, to losing The Agency in the summer of 2023, the league has been fighting to keep itself afloat amidst significant changes in its ecosystem.

Despite this, more of the region's old guard are set to depart next year. With Northern Lions Esports losing its funding, and KRC Genk Esports taking a step back from League of Legends, the league is now hoping to find new long-term partners and start a new era of the Elite Series. Thankfully, with diminishing operational costs for teams, Unlocked and the Elite Series have now found new partners who are expected to help them move forward towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

This year, despite having lost several high-profile teams in the league, new faces such as A One Man Army and Myth Esports have already proved to be great assets and perhaps even better teams than some of their predecessors. With decent competitive results, such as winning the Benelux Masters for MYTH, or reaching the semifinals in the same tournament and attending the summer playoffs for AOMA, the two teams have proved to be worthy competitors in the region since their entrance. In addition to this, both organizations have made strides in attending local events and building the region from the ground up, setting an example for others.

Circumstances around the late departure of HEET are unclear at this moment, though it is expected that their many controversies in recent years may have carried weight in the balance. Most infamously, the organization was involved in a story this year in which the team's captain pretended to be its manager in order to control roster decisions. The organization, formerly known as Absolute Legends, is now expected to exit League of Legends after spending only one year in the Benelux ERL.