ESL One Cologne confirmed as first ESL LAN event of 2021 cover image

ESL One Cologne confirmed as first ESL LAN event of 2021

ESL has updated its event schedule for 2021. ESL One Cologne will be the tournament organizer’s first LAN event of 2021. The event will run in a studio without a live audience.  Changes to ESL event formats Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID pandemic, ESL has announced a few changes to its tournament […]

ESL has updated its event schedule for 2021. ESL One Cologne will be the tournament organizer’s first LAN event of 2021. The event will run in a studio without a live audience. 

Changes to ESL event formats

<em>ESL hopes to bring back LAN events later in the year. Screengrab via </em><a href="https://pro.eslgaming.com/tour/2021/04/upcoming-tournament-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><em>ESL</em></a><em>.</em>
ESL hopes to bring back LAN events later in the year. Screengrab via ESL.

Due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID pandemic, ESL has announced a few changes to its tournament formats. This includes some events moving to an online format while other events down the year will take place in a closed studio. 

While our return to live audience events is still set to be in November of this year, we are here with an update regarding several of our upcoming events. Due to the ever-changing landscape, we have had to make changes to our calendar and how we will bring everyone the best show possible directly to your screens at home. All of this is in order to make the right decisions for our players, crew, staff and of course, our fans.

DreamHack Masters Spring and IEM Summer will take place online. Later in the year, ESL Pro League Season 14 and IEM Fall will be in-studio events. ESL hopes to return to live events with IEM Winter towards the end of the year. But ESL One Cologne might be the first ESL LAN event of the year.

ESL One Cologne: First ESL LAN event 2021

<em>ESL One Cologne 2018. Image Credit: </em><a href="https://inmotion.dhl/en/esports/article/esl-one-cologne-2018-en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><em>DHL</em></a><em>. </em>
ESL One Cologne 2018. Image Credit: DHL

ESL One Cologne is synonymous with Counter-Strike Global Offensive. Held every year at the Lanxess Arena, the tournament playoffs feature massive sellouts and competitive games.

This year, ESL One Cologne will not take place in the Lanxess Arena. As the tournament organizer struggles to find its balance between travel restrictions, safety and keeping the magnanimity of ESL One Cologne intact, the event will now take place on LAN without an audience. 


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Featured Image Credit: Redbull.