The International 12: Valve Limits Behind-The-Scenes Access for Teams
In a surprising move, Valve has decided to limit behind-the-scenes access for teams participating in The International 12 (TI12) Dota 2 tournament. Previously, teams were provided with tickets for the playoffs and granted access to practice rooms. However, this year, Valve has made significant changes to non-public attendance.
Under the new format, the group stage and playoffs are now called “The Road to The International,” with the top eight teams featuring in the main event. Unfortunately, Valve has decided not to provide suites for group-stage viewership to the teams, despite suspending it in TI11 due to limited space.
Furthermore, teams will not receive compensated tickets for family, friends, and staff who wish to attend the playoff stage. Each team will only have 10 “tickets” for access, which is separate from the seven team badges provided.
Tickets for the final weekend at Climate Pledge Arena from October 27 to 29 will be given to teams, but it is limited to 12 per organization. If teams need additional tickets, they will have to purchase general admission tickets, which are held in reserve by Valve. The cost for a three-day admission is $699, excluding taxes and fees.
In addition to the ticket limitations, Valve is also implementing a maximum of seven badged individuals allowed in practice rooms at any given time. This includes the five players, the team coach, and one additional individual, usually the team manager.
Teams have expressed their dissatisfaction with these changes as it limits their ability to create content during TI. They are unable to record player communications, pre-game speeches, drafting insights, and more with a dedicated videographer.
Some teams are hesitant to speak out against these changes due to fear of backlash from Valve. Former pro player and analyst Kyle Freeman’s blacklisting by Valve serves as a cautionary tale for those who openly criticize the handling of the competitive scene.
Given the community’s outrage over ticket prices, with some individuals having to pay close to $2,000 after fees to attend all available days, the additional limitations imposed on teams only adds fuel to the fire. However, it is unlikely that Valve will address or make any improvements to these issues before the start of TI12 on October 12.