While recent missteps like the Shanghai Majors have shown that not everything that Valve touches is gold, Dota 2 remains one of the biggest games in eSports. For proof, look no further than The International, the annual tournament that last year pulled in over $18 million in combined prizes, with winning team Evil Geniuses bringing home more than $6 million.
Whether last year’s massive prize pool will be topped remains to be seen, but The International 2016 is sure to be a huge event no matter what. It will return to Seattle’s KeyArena this summer, running from Monday, August 8, to Saturday, August 13. For those looking to see the spectacle in person, tickets will go on sale later this week, according to a blog post from Valve.
This year, Valve has decided to go with two separate tickets. The Midweek ticket sells for $75 and allows admittance to just the first four days of the event, while the Finals ticket costs $100 and grants access to the final two days. The two tickets can be purchased together in a single order, so if you want to see everything, you’re looking at paying $175 per person. For attendees with only the Midweek ticket, an outdoor viewing area will be available to watch the finals for free.
Those attending the event will want to make sure to link a Steam account with their badge, as Valve will be dropping in-game items for Dota 2, available only to members inside the arena. Five hundred exclusive Attendee Treasures will drop at First Blood during each match, containing unique versions of this year’s Secret Shop Immortals.
Tickets for The International have a history of selling out quickly, so like last year, they will be sold in two separate windows. The first batch will go on sale on April 7 at 10 a.m. PT, while the second batch goes up the same day at 10 p.m. PT. Valve has provided a table of times for various cities to make it easier for fans to get their hands on tickets.
Also like last year, tickets will be available via Ticketmaster, and will be limited to a maximum of five per household. Valve recommends getting a Ticketmaster account set up prior to the sale dates in order to have a better chance at getting your tickets. For more information, see Valve’s ticketing FAQ.
