The last couple of years have been rough for fans of live in-person video game events. Ever since the pandemic started, the gaming industry has had to adapt to keep its fans safe. Many popular events such as Blizzcon 2020 and E3 2020 were canceled in an effort to prevent large public gatherings. While more events are beginning to permit the return of fans to their venues, these often come with strict guidelines and requirements necessary for attendance. Recently, it was revealed that the Call of Duty League, also known as CDL, will require attendees to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

This news comes as the CDL's 2021 Championship Weekend quickly approaches. The CDL is a big deal for Call of Duty fans as the events move the spotlight squarely onto the popular franchise and provide a substantial payday for the winners of these Call of Duty competitions. This latest event scheduled for August 19-22 marks the first time a high-profile esports organization has made proof of vaccination a requirement in order to attend an event. According to a tweet from the CDL, "Our top priority is the health and safety of our fans, staff, and players."

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The organizers of the event cite an uptick in the amount of cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, the location of the competition, as a major reason for the new requirement. While the event strongly encourages attendees to be fully vaccinated, those that haven't received the vaccine still have an avenue for coming to the event. According to the CDL, those that aren't fully vaccinated must submit a negative PCR or antigen test that is received by the organization within 72 hours of attendance. Despite these new requirements instituted in an effort to make sure everyone at the event is COVID-19 negative, all in attendance are still required to wear a mask.

Interestingly, the Call of Duty League has already held an in-person event since the onset of the pandemic. Less than a month ago, the CDL hosted its stage 5 major in Dallas, Texas with fans in attendance. According to the source, social distancing measures were not enforced and people could choose whether to wear a mask or not. However, it's worth noting that Texas and California have taken different courses of action to combat the challenges of COVID-19.

While some organizations have attempted to host in-person events since the pandemic, many have resorted to virtual shows. The upcoming Gamescom 2021 planned to be a hybrid event with fans in attendance. Unfortunately, the show was forced to go virtual due to complications caused by COVID-19. Up until recently, the CDL had hosted all of its events online as well.

It will be interesting to see how the CDL's decision impacts the esports scene. This upcoming competition held by the CDL will likely serve as a barometer for a number of other organizations moving forward, such as the Halo Championship Series. The developers behind that highly-anticipated game apparently have a venue and time "locked in" for the first HCS event of Halo Infinite.

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