ESL have today announced that they will be hosting ESL One Cologne 2016 with a $250,000 prize pool. Despite this, they haven’t really given us much else to go off. Here’s what ESL posted on their website:
ESL One Cologne returns to the LANXESS arena in July 2016 for the largest Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament in the world! Eight of the world’s best teams will battle it out for US$250,000 in an extended three-day event, are you ready for what is sure to be an incredible event?
Location
LANXESS arena is still echoing with the cheers of last year’s ESL One Cologne, after breaking both viewership and attendance records. The excitement returns in 2016 with another world-class tournament to be held in Germany’s largest indoor arena.
Format
The ESL One Cologne tournament format will be announced at a later date – stay tuned to the ESL One Cologne website for more information as it’s released.
Qualification
Online qualifiers and team invitations will be announced at a later date – stay tuned to the ESL One Cologne website for more information as it’s released.
Prize pool
ESL One Cologne has a prize pool of US$250,000.
Press release:
ESL One Cologne, the world’s most successful Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, returns to Germany’s iconic LANXESS arena in 2016. Once again taking place in Germany’s largest indoor arena from July 8-10, the record-holding event will feature competition between the world’s finest Counter-Strike teams for a total of US$250,000 in prize money.
The inaugural event in 2015 saw foot traffic reach record-breaking highs of 22,000 across the two event days. Online, over 27 million unique viewers watched the legendary tournament for a combined total of close to 34 million hours consumed, with a peak concurrent viewership of over 1.3 million. Both company and industry records were shattered across the event weekend and remain unbeaten as ESL prepares for the second edition of what once again promises to be the world’s largest Counter-Strike tournament.
“ESL One Cologne 2015 remains an industry-record-holding event that saw epic moments realised both onscreen and off,” said Ulrich Schulze, VP Pro Gaming at ESL. “We’re working hard at making the world’s largest Counter-Strike tournament an even greater success in 2016 and look forward to furthering our company’s long-lasting commitment to the game.”
Ticket sales for ESL One Cologne in the LANXESS arena begin on December 9 and will be available exclusively on Eventim until Friday, December 11, and at all associated ticketing agencies in Germany from December 12. Prices range from €39.90 for general entry, to €2,999 for the Global Elite Experience with private lounge access. Around the event there will once again be a host of side activities, many of which will be at the ESL One Camp, which offers accommodation and a friendly community for those attending ESL One Cologne.