ESL have just announced they will return to Madison Square Garden with a $250,000 Dota 2 tournament this October 3-4.
This event is part of a larger festival, New York Super Week, that will feature a lot of nerd and pop cultural events around New York at the same time. It’s all put together by organizer ReedPOP, and culminates with New York Comic Con from October 8-11. In a way, Dota 2 is the opening act for NYCC.
From ESL’s statement on the matter, it sounds like Dota at the Garden might become a regular thing.
“Bringing esports to the iconic Madison Square Garden last year was a dream come true, and our incredible fans have inspired us to make it a tradition,” said Ulrich Schulze, Managing Director of Pro Gaming at ESL in a press release. “We’re dedicated to making this event even more legendary, as we continue to tap into the $1 million prize pool we set aside for ESL One Dota 2 competition.”
Of course, that prize pool is a drop in the ocean compared to what’s on offer at The International this year. But Dota 2 also needs events like this keep the scene active and fans engaged outside the run-up to The International.
The statement from ESL and ReedPOP promises that, “The week-long New York Super Week will showcase a variety of concerts, comedy shows, gaming events, lectures, podcasts, storytelling, food tasting and more, with ESL One to act as a cornerstone of the festival. New York Super Week is capped off with New York Comic Con – the crown jewel of fan events on the East Coast.”
Honestly, it’s a pretty enticing slate of events. But for people who can’t make it out, ESL have also started “eSports in Cinemas” which combines eSports documentaries with live event streaming. The program will carry the live finals of the New York Dota event.
Tickets are on pre-sale right now to people who attended last year, while everyone else can get tickets starting June 8. $59 gets you a day-pass, while $269 covers a Premium ticket. which gives you event access for both days, premium seating, and a swag bag.