Why should you attend a big Counter-Strike event? (by BanKs)

Hello, Skin.Club family!

Today, I wanted to answer a question that I see a lot, I am asked a lot, and I want to explain in detail. That question I hear so often is, “Why should you attend a big Counter-Strike event?”

For me, this is simple, but I have been watching, playing, and enjoying everything about Counter-Strike since 2003. I have been doing this for 21 years. It started as my passion and has become my job, and events from the early days sparked my interest in attending, viewing, and feeling the energy and hype around the LAN centers where they were hosted.

The dream for me was to attend and see these events firsthand. Back when I was 13 years old, videos like this were uploaded from the tournaments showing the real-life LAN aspect of the game as well as a look at the professional scene.

Now, things have moved on massively. We have gone from LAN centers and exhibition halls to stadiums with over 15,000 people inside. The largest one I have ever done personally was the PGL Antwerp Major, which had over 18,000 people, all enjoying, cheering, and celebrating every epic moment of the game!

So now, why would you attend a big Counter-Strike event in a stadium if you can watch it at home, live on a streaming platform for free? Why would you spend your weekend watching Counter-Strike in an arena… let me explain it to you from my side!

Opportunity

Comparing it to other sporting events, the opportunity you get from attending a Counter-Strike event is unmatched. There are signing sessions at most events these days, even some talent ones. You could meet your favorite team and players, take a photo, or get something signed. On top of that, just walking around the venue or past the players is something that could happen — getting close to them, fist-bumping them as they walk on stage. If you are really lucky, maybe they throw their jersey out at the end of the tournament or give away their gaming gear to you as a fan in the audience… so much is happening at these events, and you have to be there to experience it!

Support

An easy one: supporting the game, the organizers who make these events, and your favorite team or players… you can be there in person, channeling your energy to them and supporting them through the games on the way to the trophy.

This is something I feel so much when I am on the stage. The support, the cheering, the energy that the crowd gives me is something I personally feel and take into my work. I know for sure the players feel the same.

Like-minded people

I have met some really cool people who have come to the event on their own, not knowing anyone, and then met others like them along the way. These stories always amaze me. You will be surrounded by people who love the game like you. They may support the same team or a different team, but everyone is here for a good time, to experience a stadium environment for Counter-Strike, and to enjoy every moment of what the weekend can bring.

You may make some more friends to play Counter-Strike with when you get back home or attend future events with. I spoke to a fan at Cologne 2024 who has now been three times with people he met the first time he attended… that is what I love to see!

Meet ups and events

The event is not just when the games are going on. Fan groups for specific teams, such as the NAVI Nation, the Roaring Bears, or the Golden Hornets, come together before you can even enter the stadium to celebrate and cheer for their teams. The Golden Hornets have come multiple times to the hotel to cheer on Vitality before they even left for the stadium. Traders and Kolex Collectables, the Counter-Strike trading card company, have meet-ups as well for people to come together and share their hobbies.

Then, onto the evening, where there are different meetings, food gatherings, parties, and more that can easily be found and enjoyed. We have had teams organize parties for their fans, which is always an enjoyable way to unwind after the day.

Exclusive items

Now, this isn’t at every event, but at pretty much every event, in some way, you can get exclusive items. Maybe it’s just some clothing from the event itself to commemorate it. PGL reintroduced exclusive pins for the first CS2 Major in Copenhagen, which you got each day you attended… these are incredible to have. I wore these on my jackets every day at the Major.

Experience

The experience is just magical. Even if you are not a sporting person, or maybe you have never attended a live event in your life, the feeling is one that I find hard to describe in words. Imagine watching the game on the biggest screen, in an arena filled with thousands of other people who love the game just as much as you, cheering for the kills, cheering for their teams, feeling sad when the team loses. You get to go through all of these emotions, all of these experiences, at the same time.

If you’ve read all this and are now thinking about which event you should attend, well, there are a few key ones that I think always stand out, especially if it’s your first.

Any Counter-Strike Major

These are the most prestigious events, the ones that mean the most to the players, the events that bring stickers to the teams, and are directly created by Valve. There is only a very small list of players who are Major champions, and it is the ultimate honor in the game.

Every Major I have been to and every Major I have worked at since 2019 has been special and has had its own unique experience. You can NOT go wrong with a Major being your first event.

Cologne & Katowice

These are two of the longest-standing events in all of esports and are staples. They have been Majors in the past, and even if they are not listed as Majors currently, these are the second most sought-after trophies for all Counter-Strike players. Personally, for me, Cologne would be the one I choose because it holds a very special place in my heart, just for the crowd and emotions. It sits a little bit above Katowice, but this is just personal preference.

BLAST Finals events

These won’t exist in the same way in 2025, but a BLAST finals event has some of the best in-arena experiences for any event in esports. They have the highest level of production, and they set a new standard for what the norm is. It’s great to see how this is pushing other organizers to reach such a level as well. You can see the improvements other TOs have tried to make because of what BLAST has done!

So, there you have it. Hopefully, I have helped you understand WHY you SHOULD attend a Counter-Strike event in a stadium and how amazing this experience can be for you.

If you’ve read this and decided to attend an event, then please tell me which one you decided on, and if you have any more questions, feel free to tweet me and ask. 2025 is going to be an amazing year in Counter-Strike events, and hopefully, I will see some of you there, maybe even some who are attending for the first time!