Los Angeles Venue to Be Empty for VALORANT Champions Matches Due to Severe Weather
Due to the path of Hurricane Hilary up the southwest coast of the U.S., Riot Games has made the decision to play the loser bracket semi-finals of the VALORANT Champions tournament without a live audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on August 20. The safety of fans is the top priority, as the hurricane has already caused flooding in parts of Mexico and poses a threat to the event venue.
Impacted Ticket Holders to Receive Refunds
In anticipation of the severe weather, Riot Games announced their decision on Twitter, stating that refunds will be available for all ticket holders affected by the change. The removal of the live audience is only for the matches scheduled on August 20.
Matches Will Continue as Scheduled
The matches will still be played as scheduled, with the expectation that the games will run smoothly and be accessible for fans to watch from home. However, the absence of a live audience creates a unique atmosphere, as both teams and fans have not experienced this since VCT Masters Reykjavík in 2022.
Temporary Change as Weather Permits
Fortunately, the venue change is temporary. The final day of games at the Shrine Auditorium falls on August 20, after which the event will be hosted at the KIA Forum. Fans who have purchased tickets for the entire event will need to adjust their plans accordingly. There is a three-day break between venues, giving hope that the weather will improve before the move to the Forum.
Today’s matches feature DRX vs Fnatic and LOUD vs EDward Gaming, with both matches having elimination implications. The teams will be highly focused without the distraction of a live audience. Let’s hope the weather improves and the losers won’t have to fly home tonight.
VALORANT Champions, live audience, Los Angeles, severe weather, Hurricane Hilary