This summer’s International, lest it understably have escaped your attention, will be the first since Dota 2’s actual launch. Consequently, the grand invitational is moving to a 17,459 seat stadium a little north of downtown Seattle: the KeyArena.
The KeyArena is the former home of the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, and these days hosts a number of Seattle University sports teams.
Tickets will go on sale for $99, and admit fans to the four day Championships Event at KeyArena. They’ll be sold through Ticketmaster from Friday, April 4 at 3pm PDT/11pm GMT. You’ll need to pay $100 extra for floor seats.
VIP tickets will cost $499, and will grant access to the six days of Playoffs – what we used to call the Group Stage – due to begin on July 8 before the main Championships event. VIP customers will also enjoy exclusive meet and greets, as well as entry to an official after party of sorts.
Valve will directly invite 11 teams to play in the International. Four regional qualifiers beginning May 12 will decide four runners-up, who’ll then compete in Seattle for the final spot.
More than a million fans watched last year’s Dota 2 International finals – though League of Legends still holds the record for the most watched eSport event of all time.
Gosh: proper Valve news on April 1. Makes a change from Half-Life 3, doesn’t it?