CS:GO: ESL One Cologne to Go On without Live Audience, IEM Melbourne Moved to 2021
| Tags: CS2
| Author Caroline Rutledge
Changes are made to ESL One Cologne and IEM Melbourne due to COVID-19.
ESL One Cologne 2020 will be played without a live crowd in accordance with Germany’s ruling on large gatherings, ESL announced today. In addition, IEM Melbourne, which was scheduled to take place this August, has been delayed by a full year. Tickets purchased for both 2020 events will still be valid for next year.
Dear CS:GO Fans: We have an important update to share that concerns all attendees of #ESLOne Cologne and #IEM Melbourne this year. Due to the current global health situation, both live events have been rescheduled to 2021. All tickets remain valid. https://t.co/YYhMrSp5eH pic.twitter.com/fwFTjpR7u5
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 5, 2020
ESL One Cologne 2020 was originally slated to take place in early July but was rescheduled for late August due to the country’s rules against large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now run from August 21-30 as a broadcasted event without an audience in attendance. ESL will return to Cologne in July of 2021, and all tickets purchased for the 2020 event will remain valid for next year’s edition.
Cologne, And Melbourne
IEM Melbourne, the IEM stop that replaced Sydney, has been fully canceled for 2020. The event has instead been pushed back a full year, running from August 16-22, 2021. The event was slated to take place alongside the Melbourne Esports Open, which has also been rescheduled for 2021. Like Cologne, all tickets purchased for IEM Melbourne 2020 will remain valid for the 2021 event. ESL also states that refunds can be issued for both events if needed.
These events join many other CS:GO tournaments to be canceled or postponed in light of the coronavirus pandemic. ESL Pro League, Flashpoint, and DreamHack events were all moved online, IEM Katowice went on without a live crowd, and the ESL One Rio Major has been delayed until November.
ESL One Cologne 2020 is set to host sixteen of Counter-Strike’s best teams as they fight for their share of a $1,000,000 prize pool. The event will return to the LANXESS Arena with a live audience in 2021. IEM Melbourne will host sixteen teams at the Rod Laver Arena in 2021, with $250,000 on offer. More information regarding both events will be released as global travel and large gathering restrictions change.
Caroline is an esports journalist focusing on CS:GO. Starting out as a casual CS:GO fan, her interest quickly turned into a passion as she spent years studying the game. She has put that knowledge to use as a journalist, now writing about professional CS:GO for multiple websites including TheGamer.