ESL One Cologne 2020 to take Place Without a Live Audience; IEM Melbourne 2020 Postponed to 2021

Cover And Thumbnail Image Courtesy: ESL Gaming

• Both ESL One Cologne 2020 and IEM Melbourne 2020 have been postponed due to the ongoing global health situation.
  
  
• ESL One Cologne 2020 rescheduled to take place in August while the dates for its 2021 edition have also been announced.
  
  
• IEM Melbourne 2020 stands cancelled and has been postponed to take place next year from 21^st-22^nd August.

ESL has announced an update on the situation regarding both ESL One Cologne 2020 and IEM Melbourne 2020, as both Germany and Australia are prohibiting any event that might lead to the gathering of huge crowds due to the ongoing global health situation.

“As a result of this, both ESL One Cologne and IEM Melbourne will not occur with audiences this year, with both live events postponed until 2021.”

ESL One Cologne 2020

As Germany has officially stated that no large gathering will take place until the end of August 2020, ESL has announced that this year’s edition of ESL One Cologne will be played without a live audience, while revealing the dates for the ESL One Cologne 2021 as 16^th-18^th July, “with all purchased 2020 tickets remaining valid for next year’s event.” But for those seeking a refund, they can request it before the end of the year.

The Cologne-based tournament will now take place from 21^st-30^th August, with it being “transformed into a broadcasted tournament without a live audience.” It is still not entirely clear whether the tournament will be a complete online tournament or a LAN event taking place without a live audience, similar to what took place at IEM Katowice 2020 earlier this year.

[Also Read: IEM Katowice Playoffs to take place Without any Audience due to Coronavirus Concerns]

IEM Melbourne 2020

An IEM tournament has been held every year since 2017 in Australia but unfortunately, the streak will be coming to an end this year, as IEM Melbourne 2020 stands cancelled and has been postponed to take place next year as part of the Melbourne Esports Open 2021, taking place from 21^st-22^nd August.

IEM Sydney 2018

ESL has announced that the purchased tickets for 2020 will still be valid for next years tournament, while also giving an option to request a refund before the end of the year.

The rescheduled dates for ESL One Cologne 2020 seems to be in accordance with the suspected change in the dates of the player summer break, which has been shifted to take place earlier according to reports. As CSPPA and ESL have apparently been working together to reschedule the player break to 29^th June-31^st July from the original dates 15^th July-15^th August.

[Also Read: Fan Reaction to cancelled IEM Katowice event for audience goes viral]