PGL Scrambles For New Venue After TAURON Arena Cancellation
Despite this, PGL is determined to proceed with its events as planned from January 13-25, 2027. “This abrupt decision disappoints PGL and the Counter-Strike community,” the organization stated. “Despite this setback, our commitment remains, and a PGL CS2 Event will still take place from January 13 to 25, 2027. We are actively seeking a new venue that recognizes the significance of esports and embraces its global audience”.
Initially, PGL had chosen Krakow to host its first event of 2027, marking a return to the city where they previously held the PGL Major Krakow in 2017. That tournament saw Gambit claim victory over Immortals in the grand final. PGL CEO Silviu Stroie reflected on their past experience in the city, emphasizing its significance. “”PGL Major Krakow 2017 was a landmark moment for us and the esports community,” he said. “The passion of the fans and the thrilling competition created unforgettable memories. We are excited to return to Krakow and build upon this legacy”. The 2027 event was supposed to take place in the TAURON Arena, a venue with a seating capacity of over 15,000 for sporting events.
This situation will be further complicated as BLAST has announced that it will run a Bounty event from January 13-24, 2027. This will create a direct scheduling conflict with PGL’s 2027 tournament. Both organizers are following Valve’s requirement to announce events at least 24 months in advance, but with a packed calendar, no resolution was found, leading to the two tournaments running concurrently.
While ESL, PGL, and BLAST managed to avoid direct clashes in 2025, scheduling conflicts remain a persistent issue. In 2025, two of PGL’s events – Astana and Belgrade – will conclude just one day before teams are expected to travel for IEM Dallas and Chengdu, making it difficult for teams to compete in both.
With the open circuit becoming increasingly competitive, major organizers are struggling to find space, making scheduling conflicts an ongoing battle. Some argue this benefits the CS scene by giving lower-ranked teams more chances to compete in tier-one events.
