World's biggest Call of Duty tournament is happening in Ontario, and it's 'a huge deal'

For the first time ever, the Call of Duty League World Championship is being held outside the United States, and it's happening in Kitchener, Ont.

Eight teams will battle it out in a first-person shooter game that throws players into military-style combat for a $2-million U.S. prize pool Thursday to Sunday. The event is being hosted at The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, otherwise known as The Aud — a venue more used to holding OHL games than high-stakes gaming. 

But organizers say the move up north is no accident.

"We're going to transform it and show the world that The Aud is unstoppable," said Neil Duffy, chief commercial officer for OverActive Media, the Toronto-based group behind the tournament's host team, Toronto Ultra.

A major win for Kitchener

The Call of Duty Championship has been held in cities including Los Angeles, Dallas and Las Vegas — so why now Kitchener?

Allister Scorgie, director of sport hosting for Explore Waterloo Region, said planning for it "was a long road." 

"We've been working with a dedicated focus on making Waterloo region an esports destination for about four or five years," he said.

Scorgie said it came down to a combination of preparation and affordability.

"Venue readiness was a big part of it," he said. "Even though we haven't hosted a big event like this before, [The Aud's team] was prepared and seasoned to know what to expect."

Duffy said Scorgie and his team were key to Kitchener securing the tournament.

"This event wouldn't be able to take place without the Explore Waterloo Region folks.

"We're building something very ambitious here by making an event of this size and scale, and they've been with us lockstep," Duffy added.

He said OverActive could have chosen to host the event in Toronto, but when Kitchener came up as an option, he said, "listen, it's 60 minutes from Pearson airport. The hotels are much more affordable. There's great food and beverage options, and there's a venue that's as good as any in the country."

Scorgie said the economic impact of the tournament is expected to land between $12 million and $14 million in new visitor spending, with fans and production staff travelling from across North America and beyond.

"That can break down into things like the amount of money that's spent on booking hotel rooms at restaurants, bars, pubs, transportation like car rentals, even the money that someone spends at a gas station locally," he said. 

"It also includes what the event spends to set up the venue and bring the production to life."

While other major sports events like the Grey Cup may be out of reach for mid-sized cities like Kitchener, Scorgie believes esports offers a unique opportunity for the region to punch above its weight.

"Everyone's got arenas and soccer fields and diamonds, it's not easy to find a way to differentiate yourself and stand out. We saw esports as a way to do that."

Home crowd advantage 

This weekend, sitting in the middle of the venue where players with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers might take a faceoff, is a massive screen-covered stage. On both sides is a row of desks lined with monitors and computers for teams to take their places. The setup is similar to any other esports event.

But for the Toronto Ultra players, this is more than just any other tournament.

"I'm really excited," said Joseph Romero, a.k.a. JoeDeceives. "Last year I played against Optic [Texas] at their own champions when they ran it, and you could really feel the crowd."

He said he's been itching to go in front of Toronto's fans.

"I've seen how crazy they are and how great our fans are."

Romero, who has been playing Call of Duty since he was five years old, said the location feels fitting.

"It's very significant. It's our biggest event and you can just see how much the Canadian fans really love it."

His teammate, Jamie Craven, a.k.a. Insight, said having the event in Canada could make a real difference in team morale and public awareness. Toronto Ultra placed third in Dallas last year and second in Las Vegas the year before. This year, they're aiming to take the top spot.

"Last year, Optic Gaming hosted in Texas and it definitely made a massive difference in terms of how they were playing," Craven said. "To have the first-ever world championship in Canada.… it's definitely a huge deal. Hopefully it can push us over the line."

Romero agreed, adding that the crowd is a boost, but the real pressure comes from within.

"I don't really feel like I get pressure from fans because I already put it on myself," he said.

"Because I want to win." 

Kitchener on the world stage

Overactive Media believes events like this are more than entertainment — they're a glimpse at the future of fandom.

"If you're between the ages of 10 and 30, your primary mode of consumption is probably YouTube, Twitch or other online streaming mediums," said Duffy. "Competitive gaming and esports is one of the most popular genres."

He draws a comparison between esports and traditional sports, pointing out the aging audience of baseball versus the energy of younger fans at recent tournaments.

"Where the eyeballs go, the money follows," he said. "We're going to create the next generation of fans and superstars through events like this."

With teams coming in from across North America and fans travelling from around the globe, organizers hope this weekend sets a new bar for Canadian esports.

"We chatted with the folks at Explore Waterloo Region and said, 'Would this be comparable to an experience in Dallas or Los Angeles or Tokyo or London?'" Duffy said. 

"And we landed on that it would be."