To get you ready for the Summer Championship in Raleigh on August 24-26, we’ve created this handy guide to give you all the information you need, all in one place. Whether you’re competing, spectating, or watching from home, this is everything there is to know about this coming weekend.
Summer Championship Preview
Game-Specific Info
StarCraft II:
Games will be broadcast across four live streams. The two main streams (Red and Blue) are free in standard definition. Two Premium streams are available only with an HD Pass.
Games will be cast by Day[9], Apollo, djWheat, TotalBiscuit, Mr Bitter, Rotterdam, Rob Simpson, Tim Frazier (Robin), Axeltoss, Kibbelz, and Adebisi (observer).
Lineup | Format | Broadcast Schedule | Prizes | Maps
Full info about the North America Finals of the WCS
League of Legends:
Games will be broadcast live on two streams, both available free in standard definition. Games will be cast by Dan Dinh, Optimus Tom, Deman, Monte Cristo, Jaws, and Jatt.
Lineup | Broadcast Schedule | Prizes | Rules | Format
Mortal Kombat:
Games will be broadcast on the Fighting Games stream, which is free in standard definition. Games will be cast by Tom Brady with Juicebox Abel as the host.
Lineup | Broadcast Schedule | Prizes | Rules | Format
Soul Calibur V:
Games will be broadcast on the Fighting Games stream, which is free in standard definition. Games will be cast by Bibulus with Juicebox Abel as the host.
Lineup | Broadcast Schedule | Prizes | Rules | Format
Broadcast Info
Watch the whole weekend live on majorleaguegaming.com/live! The Summer Championship officially kicks off at 5pm ET, but we have a special treat for you. Starting at 1:30pm ET on Friday, August 24, we’ll be broadcasting the first three rounds of the North America Finals of the WCS, free to everyone in 1080p! Games will feature full casting, and you can watch right on the same live page. It’s a free preview of what the Summer Championship looks like in full HD, as well as three hours of fantastic StarCraft II.
For the whole rest of the Summer Championship, the basic viewing experience for each game will be free.
- Watch all streams from all games in up to 1080p, without ads
- Get near-instant access to VOD from all games–without an HD Pass, you’ll have to wait till the week after the event to watch VOD
- Get DVR functionality in the player to rewind and rewatch any part of the weekend
- Access the two Premium StarCraft II streams!
- The Red stream will be airing mainly Group Stage and Champ Bracket matches. The Blue stream will air mostly WCS matches. The Premium streams will air a mix of matches, concentrating on the Open Bracket.
Competitor Info
What’s it like to compete on the Pro Circuit?
It’s intense. The brackets are large, the competition is fierce, and the days are long. Come prepared; you will be in the venue for quite a while, and you or your coach or manager should bring water and snacks to help keep you going. Food is available both within the venue and immediately outside, but having something on hand if you want to take a quick break can be quite helpful.
If you want to leave the venue, speak to your Tournament Admin. They will be able to tell you exactly how long you have before your next match, so that you can leave if you need to, without worrying about when you’ll be playing next. Most players will have plenty of downtime to practice, to relax, to see the sights in the venue and to mingle. Please be sure to go by the Event Schedule for your game to ensure you know when you should be ready to play. Event Schedules: StarCraft II, NA Finals of the WCS, League of Legends, Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur V.
Live Spectator Info
What’s it like to spectate live?
You’ll get full access to everything that’s going on all weekend. The only thing you can’t do is compete in any official Pro Circuit events. Watch matches taking place on the Main Stages, on the Featured Stations, and on the floor. There are also a variety of activity booths offering free play, sneak previews of new games, and contests. Promotions and giveaways run all weekend; you could go home with a pile of free gear and samples of tons of products, from cans of NOS all the way to gaming equipment. Check out the full description of spectator activities to see everything that’s in store for you.
How do I attend as a spectator?
Just buy a venue spectator pass. This pass entitles you to watch all the action, from the minute doors open on Friday to the minute the tournament ends on Sunday. It also allows you to participate in all contests, promotions, giveaways and special events.
General Event Info
Location
The tournament is being held in the Raleigh Convention Center, 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. Get directions from Google Maps and check out full airport, taxi and public transportation information.
When You Arrive
When you arrive at the venue on the day of the Event, just head to the check-in line for competitors or for spectators. We’ll have your team or individual competitor pass (or your spectator pass) reserved under your name and the MLG ID you used to buy it, and we’ll search for your name and give you your pass. Full details about what you need to bring to get into the Event (photo ID, etc) are emailed to you when you buy a pass.
Important Times (all ET)
Check-in for Competitors is at 10:30am on Friday, August 24. Competitors, Gold Members and VIPS may enter the venue at 1:00pm. General admission for spectators is at 1:30pm. Players competing in the WCS may enter at 12:30pm. The festivities begin at 5pm sharp with the Opening Ceremonies, and gameplay kicks off at 5:30pm.
