The Esports World Cup is underway, and the event’s opening ceremony is scheduled for today. During the opening press conference for the weeks-long competitive showcase, the CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert, addressed the crowd.
It’s no big secret that the hottest topic in the Esports World Cup space is the relocation of the event. It was announced that, with just weeks to spare, the entire showcase would be uprooted and moved thousands of miles away, leaving Saudi Arabia and landing in the heart of Paris, France.
Reichert explained just how successful that relocation seems to have been.
100,000 Tickets and Counting
Speaking to the press at the Esports World Cup’s opening conference, Ralf Reichert, the EWCF’s CEO, said:
More than 100,000 tickets have been sold in the last few weeks – a record pace for an event like this.
The competition remains unchanged. What changes is the city.
Riyadh built it. Paris takes it to the world.
(Thanks to The National News for the quotes)
Everyone from Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud to France’s President Macron has shown support for the move, which could be the start of a travelling roadshow of sorts for the Esports World Cup, much like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics.
Earlier today, it was also revealed that DAZN, the titanic streaming company, will broadcast the entire EWC for free around the world (excluding a few countries).
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With 100,000 tickets having been sold, this event is arguably the most sizeable esports showcase in history. If the prize pool wasn’t enough, at almost $100 million, the sheer volume of people attending the event should be enough to nip the title.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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