North American esports organisation Version1 has announced the Minnesota Røkkr Home Series, a new series of in-person matches for upcoming Call of Duty League Major qualifiers.
The matches will take place in front of a live audience during its Major 4 and Major 5 qualifiers in April and May 2023. As a result, Minnesota Røkkr will play against four other Call of Duty League teams in front of a live audience across the two events.
The event will take place in Minnesota, the home state of Version1’s Call of Duty franchise League, although the exact venue has not yet been announced. In the announcement, the organisers noted that it plans on hosting the events at a venue that can accommodate at least 1,000 fans. The four teams joining Minnesota Røkkr during the two separate events are Florida Mutineers, Los Angeles Guerrillas, London Royal Ravens and the Boston Breach.
The new in-person series aims to bring matches in front of a Minnesota Røkkr home crowd, and will consist of games themselves as well as numerous other fan activations and opportunities.
As for the competitive benefits, the matches themselves will be a part of the qualifiers for the largest Call of Duty events of the season, the Majors. The Major 4 will be hosted by the New York Subliners, while the fifth Major still has no definitive location. Last season, Minnesota Røkkr hosted Call of Duty League’s Stage 2 Major in March 2022.
In addition, Version1 will open its headquarters and practice facilities to visiting teams during the two events.
Brett Diamond, Chief Operating Officer at Version1, commented: “It is important that we build on the success we had hosting a CDL Major last season, while also developing a new esports event concept that allows fans in the region to attend more live CDL events.”
