AUSTIN, Texas — Moody Center is set to host a major esports event next year.
Esports entertainment company BLAST has announced plans to host next year’s Counter-Strike Major in Austin in June. Counter-Strike is one of the most popular first-person shooter games in the world and has been played competitively in esports since 2000.
The event is expected to bring together top esports teams from around the world, competing for both glory and substantial prize money, and could become one of the largest esports events ever hosted in the U.S. Around 50,000 fans are expected to attend the event.
The city of Austin is forecast to benefit from $40 million in economic investment. Along with the expected 50,000 in-person fans, millions of fans from more than 150 countries and territories are also expected to tune in. The event will be broadcast in 28 different languages.
BLAST announced the event as part of a partnership with Live Nation, Austin-based promoter C3 Presents and Visit Austin, the city's tourism and marketing division.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the BLAST.tv Major to Austin, Texas," Robbie Douek, CEO for BLAST, said in a Thursday release. "The city's dynamic atmosphere, the cutting-edge Moody Center and track record of hosting world-leading events provide the perfect setting for what promises to be an unforgettable event. We look forward to showcasing the best of esports to a global audience and making a positive impact on the local community."
“We are thrilled that Austin has been selected to host the BLAST.tv Austin Major, one of the biggest esports events in the world," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. "Austin is the perfect place to showcase the esports industry and the technology at the heart of the competition. We look forward to welcoming teams and fans from all across the globe to Austin.”
“We’re excited to host BLAST.tv Austin Major, Austin’s first arena-based esports competition, which we estimate will bring 10,000+ fans to Moody Center each day, " Drew Hays, the executive director of the Austin Sports Commission, said. "For our city to have such a thriving technology sector and avid esports fanbase, an event like this is long overdue and we’re looking forward to an exciting competition next June.”
According to BLAST, the Counter-Strike Major is one of the most highly-anticipated esports events in the calendar year due to its prestige, fanbase, history, global viewership and high stakes, with the world’s best players competing for a $1.25 million combined prize pool.
The Counter-Strike Major is another high-profile event that will take place in Austin next year, alongside South by Southwest (SXSW), the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the 2025 MLS All-Star Game and the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.