The tickets for the final Dota 2 Major competition of this season, Bali Major, were sold out yesterday, amidst criticism from the Dota 2 community which highlighting the high ticket prices and the selection of venue which was deemed as too small.
Tickets for the Bali Major 2023, which will take place from July 7 to 9, 2023, have been regarded as the most expensive Major so far, with 465 USD (7.1 million Rupiah) for the normal three-day pass and 1030 USD (15.3 million Rupiah) for the premium. The competition will take place at the Ayana Resort Jimbaran in Bali, with a capacity of less than 1,000 spectators.
This prompted uproar in the Dota 2 community, particularly among Dota 2 fans in Indonesia, who had long hoped to watch the Major live in their country but were hampered by the price barrier. Some mocked it as “Bule Major,” which refers to the high ticket costs and facilities that cater to Balinese tourists.
Several professionals and talents in the Dota 2 competitive scene have expressed similar opinions. Talents such as Shu Faye, Solicorn (Talon Esports), and Himesama, as well as pro gamers couple Topson and Mawar Remy, have all stated on Twitter that Bali Major tickets are too pricey for them.
Gorgc posted a video yesterday, criticising the Bali Major’s ticket pricing and the ongoing issue against ticket scalpers.
Some professional Dota 2 teams, including the Indonesian team, Mansion Army Geniuses, responded sarcastically regarding this issue on Twitter.
Despite the current uproar, IO Esports, the organiser of the Bali Major, stated that the tickets were sold out in just few hours after the sale opened. For now, they have not provided further information regarding additional ticket sales which are rumored to be offered soon.
The ticket sales suggests that the organiser have, somehow, succeeded in selling the luxury resort packages as premium entertainment in the Bali Major. However, recent social media uploads indicate that ticket sales were not entirely sold out because of high demand from the community.
Many users reported that they were unable to buy the tickets as there was a problem on the IO Esports website which displayed that tickets “sold out” even though they could be booked. Furthermore, they complain about the payment option, which was only available through PayPal, as well as the site’s frequent crashes. Dota 2 local pundits such Dimas “Dejet” Surya Rizki has raised his voice regarding this issues.
In addition, the community also blamed scalpers, who have recently become increasingly popular in Indonesia. In the last few hours, the Dota community in Indonesia found out that Bali Major regular tickets are being resold at over twice the original price. Some even claimed to have seen premium tickets for sale for around $2500, which is paired with accomodations in Bali.
