Call of Duty League cancels all Home Series events and shifts to online format

Activision Blizzard Esports has announced that the all Call of Duty League Home Series Events will be canceled because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

All Home Series Live Events for the 2020 season are canceled and shifting to an online format.

Here’s the statement:

The health and safety of employees, fans, players, teams, and partners is paramount to Activision Blizzard Esports. We are continuing to closely monitor COVID-19 (coronavirus), city-level recommendations and mandates, and all guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After careful review and working in close collaboration with our teams, we are shifting all currently scheduled 2020 Call of Duty League live events to online-only competition, effective immediately. For details on previously ticketed events, please visit host team websites and follow their social channels.

The new online-only matches will be broadcast live to fans. Dates will be announced shortly, along with tune-in details. Call of Duty League has seen firsthand the power of our live events in our inaugural season, and will return to city-based competition in front of live audiences as soon as it is safe and logistically possible.

In the interim, Call of Duty League is confident it will continue to deliver fans what they want: amazing competition between the best players, competing at the highest level, for the right to be considered the greatest team on earth.

Thank you.

The Call of Duty League also sent a statement from Commissioner Johanna Faries:

“The COVID-19 crisis has posed incredibly serious challenges to so many people around the globe, and the Call of Duty League community has felt its impact as well. The decision to shift upcoming live events to online competition was a difficult one for all of us, but done with the goal of ensuring the wellbeing of our incredible fans, players, coaches, employees, and partners. We plan to publish more information about upcoming online matches soon, still broadcast live on our YouTube channel.“

“We understand how disappointing this may be for fans who planned to attend upcoming live Home Series and we hope to be back in front of live audiences later this year. In the meantime, let’s continue to support our teams and players in doing what they do so well.”

This news comes as Overwatch League also announced cancellation of all March and April events for their league as well on March 11. The LA Home Series went ahead as planned this past weekend, as CDL said they implemented additional health precautions at this event.