PGL hits first of two requirements to host Major in Stockholm

Indoor event restrictions are the last obstacle preventing the PGL Major from taking place in Stockholm.

One of the two obstacles that have prevented the PGL Major to be held in Stockholm has been removed this week, as Sweden has eased travel restrictions for esports players coming into the country after adding esports competitions to the list of elite international sports events.

This comes as promising news for the organizers of the event, who revealed at the end of July their two main requirements needed to be able to host the Major in the Swedish capital: for the players and staff to be allowed to enter the country and for indoor restrictions to be lifted so that a large audience can attend.

"I am glad that this decision now opens up the possibility of holding international eSports events even during the pandemic. Sweden has long been a leader in eSports, which is a position we must preserve," Sweden's Minister for Culture and Democracy, Amanda Lind, said.

With the first obstacle removed, the restrictions currently in place for indoor events are the only thing preventing the Major to be held in the 16,000-seater Avicii Arena. September 15 is now the second important deadline, by which PGL will decide the final location of the $2 million tournament.

The PGL Major is slated to run from October 23-November 7, featuring 24 teams from all over the world. The participants of the event will be decided via the Regional Major Ranking, whose final standings will be determined when IEM Fall comes to a close on October 10 as the host of the final set of RMR events in all six regions.