Over the past decade, e-sports has grown exponentially and has become a huge reason as to why so many young people today travel to certain parts of the world. Next year, many will gather in Shanghai, China to witness the biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year, The International.
The initial announcement was made on Saturday through a statement from Weng Tiehui, a Vice Major of Shanghai. In his translated statement, he announces that the city is thrilled to host such a prestigious event and is welcoming all travelers with open arms on behalf of Shanghai’s 24 million citizens.
With The International being a yearly event, it makes sense to have next year’s location in Shanghai. This year, the tournament will be hosted in Vancouver in the Rogers Arena. This arena will be able to hold just under 19,000 people. Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benze Arena, however, will be able to hold 183,000 spectators, almost 10 times that of the Rogers Arena!
China continues to grow as a hub for e-sports industry as it has one of the largest audiences and player bases for games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends (a game which has also hosted tournaments in China in the past).
Dota 2 events have always been a large talking point among video game and sports fans alike as it continues to grow its prize pool every year by the millions. Don’t be surprised if you have friends booking flights to Shanghai next year! This is an event to not miss out on if you’re a fan of Dota 2.