The ongoing pandemic continues to cause havoc, and today it took aim at Valve’s The International 2021. Not only did the popular Dota 2 esports championship get delayed and moved out of Sweden, but now it will no longer be a live event. In a message to the community, Valve announced that it canceled all tickets for The International 2021. Those who purchased a ticket to the show will get a refund.
The International 2021 was once scheduled to take place during August in Sweden. However, due to issues arising from the government, Valve quickly had to scramble for a new venue. Two weeks after Sweden’s decision, the show had a new location of Bucharest, Romania. Tickets eventually went on sale for attendees. But today, three days before The International 2021 was set to crack off, Valve canceled all tickets and announced the refund.
“We have been carefully evaluating the continued rise of Covid rates in Romania, as well as the resulting introduction of new local restrictions in Bucharest,” Valve wrote in a message to the Dota 2 community. “To ensure the safety of all players, talent, and production staff participating in the event, we have decided to refund all ticket sales for The International 2021.
“We wanted nothing more than to welcome fans live to the event, but we can no longer do so in a way that allows us to prioritize the health and well-being of both audience members and participants. Those who purchased tickets will be issued a full refund automatically.”
Watching from home
It’s a rough situation for ticket-buying fans. Valve certainly got really damn close to the starting dates before it canceled The International 2021 tickets. The event is taking place in the Arena Națională, Romania’s largest stadium. It can fit up to 55,000 people, but alas those stands will remain empty for the show. The International runs from October 7 to October 12, with a prize pool of $40 million USD.
