This year’s IEM Katowice is hitting the big screen in the UK, with the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive finals set to be broadcast live in cinemas in cities such as London, Leicester, and Birmingham.
ESL UK and CinEvents have teamed up to bring a portion of the highly-anticipated esports tournament to a total of 13 cinemas. Tickets are available here. IEM Katowice is one of the biggest CS:GO events of the year, with a total prize pool of $500,000 (£357,165) up for grabs.
Sixteen of the best teams in the game will face off against each other, with the winning team taking home $250,000 (£178,582.50). Fans will be able to watch the last two remaining teams battle for this huge prize live in cinemas, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes video from ESL and IEM being shown prior to it kicking off.
James Dean, UK Managing Director, ESL explained: “IEM Katowice is one of the largest esports tournaments in the world, so there is no better place to watch in the UK than on the big screen. We want to give more fans the opportunity to experience the CS:GO Finals with the exciting, pulse-pounding spectacle of the Spodek Arena. Cinema screenings are a great way to offer that experience.”
Joe Evea, Founder, CinEvents also weighed in on these innovative screenings: “The cinema provides an excellent way for esports fans to experience the thrill of a live event in a venue with surround sound and stadium seating. For many who are unable to attend the live event itself, cinemas represents a local, accessible and affordable way to spend a memorable evening, sharing the esports experience with like-minded fans.”
Here’s the complete list of cinemas that will screen the finals: Birmingham Vue, Bolton Light Cinema, Bristol Longwell Vue, Edinburgh Ocean Vue, Leeds, Light Vue, Leicester Vue, Manchester Lowery Vue, New Brighton Light Cinema, Sheffield Light Cinema, Shepherd’s Bush Vue, Stockport Light Cinema, Swansea Vue, and Walsall Light Cinema.
Esports Insider says: It’s great to see esports being increasingly adapted into mainstream entertainment, and the regional spread of cinemas airing the event is impressive. Back in 2015, could you ever have imagined watching CS:GO at the Walsall Light? That dream can now be a reality. Hopefully it’s well promoted and they get plenty of people down to attend so this can happen over and over again until its the norm.
