The world's biggest Call of Duty tournament is happening in Ontario, and it's 'a huge deal'

For the first time ever, the Call of Duty League World Championship is being held outside the United States, and it's happening in Kitchener, Ont.

Eight teams will battle it out in a first-person shooter game that throws players into military-style combat for a $2-million U.S. prize pool Thursday to Sunday. The event is being hosted at The Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, otherwise known as The Aud — a venue more used to holding OHL games than high-stakes gaming. 

But organizers say the move up north is no accident.

"We're going to transform it and show the world that The Aud is unstoppable," said Neil Duffy, chief commercial officer for OverActive Media, the Toronto-based group behind the tournament's host team, Toronto Ultra.

The Call of Duty Championship has previously been held in cities like Los Angeles, Dallas and Las Vegas — so why now Kitchener?

Allister Scorgie, director of sport hosting for Explore Waterloo Region, said planning for it "was a long road." 

"We've been working with a dedicated focus on making Waterloo region an esports destination for about four or five years," he said.

Scorgie said it came down to a combination of preparation and affordability.

"Venue readiness was a big part of it," he said. "Even though we haven't hosted a big event like this before, [The Aud's team] was prepared and seasoned to know what to expect."

Duffy said Scorgie and his team were key to Kitchener securing the tournament.

"This event wouldn't be able to take place without the Explore Waterloo Region folks," Duffy said. 

"We're building something very ambitious here by making an event of this size and scale, and they've been with us lockstep," Duffy added.

He said that OverActive could have chosen to host the event in Toronto, but when Kitchener came up as an option, he said, "listen, it's 60 minutes from Pearson airport. The hotels are much more affordable. There's great food and beverage options, and there's a venue that's as good as any in the country."

Scorgie says the economic impact of the tournament is expected to land between $12 and $14 million in new visitor spending, with fans and production staff traveling from across North America and beyond.