The International 10 tickets are not on sale five weeks before showtime

The biggest tournament in esports history deserves a live audience but plans are getting pushed back to the very last minute.

On August 3, the official Dota 2 blog clarified the situation surrounding tickets for The International 10. Valve is still facing several uncertainties regarding travel restrictions and event safety. Tickets for TI10 are still intended to be sold at a later day. The $40 million tournament is still scheduled to begin on October 7, 2021. 

“With circumstances constantly changing, we want to be careful to make a well-informed and safe decision regarding ticket sales closer to the event,” Valve explained.

This is a roadblock for the hundreds of thousands of Dota 2 fans who plan to attend the event live. Fans across North America, South America, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe will have to schedule thousands of plane rides and hotel stays within a month of the event’s opening ceremony. Acquiring the tickets themselves could be difficult given such short notice of availability.

Knowing how some of Valve’s previous TI10 ambitions panned out, it’s understandable that some Dota 2 fans will reconsider their plans.

Valve’s statement further cited the return of major travel restrictions across Europe and other parts of the world. Bucharest, Romania is experiencing an increased number of cases across August and October. Grouping thousands together from all over the world could lead to potential safety concerns.  

Will The International 10 have a live audience?

Every Dota 2 International since 2011 has had a live audience. The roar of the crowd is a hallmark of any big play at The International. But frequent troubles have plagued the planning of TI10 which could lead to even more drastic measures.

For the Dota 2 community, The International is much more than just a big tournament. It’s a ten-day celebration of all things Dota 2 immortalized with announcements, ceremonies, and the crowning of a world champion. The removal of a live audience would cost The International one of its most defining features.

 It’s possible that Valve will have to make the difficult call of canceling a live audience for The International 10. The events could take place in a closed private arena similar to the Singapore and WePlay Dota Pro Circuit majors. Any news regarding TI10 tickets will likely be announced through the Dota 2 blog.