While it had been widely announced that The International 10, which is located in Romania (Bucharest) this time around, would have a live audience, things took a different time. In a last-minute decision, Valve decided to not have an audience present for the event after all, as COVID cases in Romania are on the rise again and they want to protect their players and staff who are present at the event itself.
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 live audience at The International 2021 — https://t.co/JOZQzxZ8Sf pic.twitter.com/77xnfvC5kv
— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) October 3, 2021
They went on to apologize for the situation and offer full refunds on tickets. “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.”
Despite the decision, The International 10 won’t suffer any delays in scheduling, however. “The International 2021 will begin as planned on October 7, and we look forward to welcoming the best Dota teams in the world to the stage and sharing the experience online with millions of fans around the world.”
Also read:
- How strong is DPC Europe? – Looking ahead to The International 10
- Dota 2 – Why SEA has a Real Shot at The International 10
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Image Credit: Valve