While it appears that ESEA will maintain the current structure of three divisions for North America, league admins have warned that the season is not guaranteed to happen even though it has been announced.

Teams new to Open are able to register now . Existing teams will have to wait for the conclusion of Season 22 before their rosters are unlocked and they are moved to the appropriate division for next season. All teams will have until September 5th, 2016 at 11:59pm CDT to register and pay league fees for six players on their roster in order to ensure their spot in the upcoming season.

ESEA has announced Season 23 of its league, provisionally scheduled to begin September 11th, 2016 and end December 19th, 2016.

1 #1 bearodactyl 30 Frags – + Teams new to Open are free to register now. Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea [quote]Teams new to Open are free to register now. [/quote]Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea

2 #2 negasora 65 Frags – + bearodactyl Teams new to Open are free to register now. Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea I think they're saying that new teams CAN register now, but they still have to pay [quote=bearodactyl][quote]Teams new to Open are free to register now. [/quote]Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea[/quote]



I think they're saying that new teams CAN register now, but they still have to pay

3 #3 tsc 38 Frags – + negasora bearodactyl Teams new to Open are free to register now. Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea

I think they're saying that new teams CAN register now, but they still have to pay Correct, $10 league fees are still very much present. I've adjusted the article to avoid confusion. [quote=negasora][quote=bearodactyl][quote]Teams new to Open are free to register now. [/quote]Hopefully this will encourage ugc players to finally make the switch to esea[/quote]



I think they're saying that new teams CAN register now, but they still have to pay[/quote]



Correct, $10 league fees are still very much present. I've adjusted the article to avoid confusion.

4 #4 tsar 23 Frags – + So Invite needs 9 teams and IM needs 16 at a minimum to maintain the status quo? That's 150 players, not including ESEA-O. So Invite needs 9 teams and IM needs 16 at a minimum to maintain the status quo?



That's 150 players, not including ESEA-O.

5 #5 theoxandmoon 11 Frags – + I wish I were good enough to play in IM. Gotta keep practicing. Hopefully we fill up the spots. I wish I were good enough to play in IM. Gotta keep practicing. Hopefully we fill up the spots.

6 #6 tsar 13 Frags – + theoxandmoon I wish I were good enough to play in IM. Gotta keep practicing. Hopefully we fill up the spots. Given the fact that around half of Invite is dying, a lot of IM will go there, lowering the skill floor to get into ESEA-IM. I don't know where in Open you are (or if you're in Open), but if you are in high to mid open, you might get into IM, if IM is around next season. [quote=theoxandmoon]I wish I were good enough to play in IM. Gotta keep practicing. Hopefully we fill up the spots.[/quote]



Given the fact that around half of Invite is dying, a lot of IM will go there, lowering the skill floor to get into ESEA-IM.



I don't know where in Open you are (or if you're in Open), but if you are in high to mid open, you might get into IM, if IM is around next season.

7 #7 domthewhiteguy 10 Frags – + Tsarbucks So Invite needs 9 teams and IM needs 17* at a minimum to maintain the status quo?



That's 150 players, not including ESEA-O. FTFY and i really hope we can get a strong newbie mix drive. thats where we will get a lot of open teams this time around. and also please dont have conferences. edit: they might move up all open playoff teams if they cant get numbers in IM. [quote=Tsarbucks]So Invite needs 9 teams and IM needs 17* at a minimum to maintain the status quo?



That's 150 players, not including ESEA-O.[/quote]



FTFY



and i really hope we can get a strong newbie mix drive. thats where we will get a lot of open teams this time around. and also please dont have conferences.



edit: they might move up all open playoff teams if they cant get numbers in IM.

8 #8 botmode 10 Frags – + I wouldn't be surprised if we lose IM this season

then again I've been thinking that for seasons so I wouldn't be surprised if we lose IM this season

then again I've been thinking that for seasons so

9 #9 Smin 21 Frags – + Remember that Admins say the season isn't guaranteed every year. Remember that Admins say the season isn't guaranteed every year.

10 #10 Daijou 23 Frags – + REALLY hoping they unban the Iron Bomber now REALLY hoping they unban the Iron Bomber now

11 #11 flatline 6 Frags – + what IM teams are going to be alive for next season? either saam/good players (or both) will probably go to invite. i know ziggurat is staying together in some form but that's it. what IM teams are going to be alive for next season?



either saam/good players (or both) will probably go to invite. i know ziggurat is staying together in some form but that's it.

12 #12 n0 0 Frags – + when does s22 playoffs start? when does s22 playoffs start?

13 #13 3680962134679021 56 Frags – + Who's ready for Slinvite? Who's ready for Slinvite?

14 #14 domthewhiteguy 5 Frags – + n0 when does s22 playoffs start? august 9th [quote=n0]when does s22 playoffs start?[/quote]





august 9th

15 #15 Failw1zard 25 Frags – + My team is thinking about going to Open instead of silver, but is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week? My team is thinking about going to Open instead of silver, but is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week?

16 #16 phobia 26 Frags – + Failw1zard My team is thinking about going to Open instead of silver, but is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week? Yes that is good. [quote=Failw1zard]My team is thinking about going to Open instead of silver, but is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week?[/quote]

Yes that is good.

17 #17 Daffodil- 31 Frags – + Failw1zard is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week? That is perfectly fine for open, in fact, that is actually more than a fair bit of teams playing in open right now. If your team is serious about playing in open I would encourage you to also look for a mentor (Make sure to do background checks to ensure they are good or risk being given bad advice. Avoid those who will only do it if they get paid as well- they are usually not the best people). [quote=Failw1zard]is it worth being in open if our team can only scrim 3 maybe 4 nights a week?[/quote]

That is perfectly fine for open, in fact, that is actually more than a fair bit of teams playing in open right now. If your team is serious about playing in open I would encourage you to also look for a mentor (Make sure to do background checks to ensure they are good or risk being given bad advice. Avoid those who will only do it if they get paid as well- they are usually not the best people).

18 #18 Not_Matlock 6 Frags – + Dammit. I really wish my schedule left me time to play again. Oh well. Maybe one day.... Dammit. I really wish my schedule left me time to play again. Oh well. Maybe one day....

19 #19 apt -2 Frags – + Somewhat disappointing news that IM's skill ceiling is going to lower a bit due to the invite slots filling up and many teams dying, but I'm still happy that we're around for another season regardless. Somewhat disappointing news that IM's skill ceiling is going to lower a bit due to the invite slots filling up and many teams dying, but I'm still happy that we're around for another season regardless.

20 #20 Dolly 0 Frags – + The lower skill shift in the lower divisions is happening in eu too (even more so), so I guess it's just the tf2 we have to accept now. The lower skill shift in the lower divisions is happening in eu too (even more so), so I guess it's just the tf2 we have to accept now.

21 #21 SpaceCadet 54 Frags – + Skill level does not matter at all. I couldn't really give 2 shits about how Invite for S23 matches up against the glory days of the past. You always have mediocre (at best) invite players trashing the IM division every season and it means nothing every season. What really matters is the growth of the competitive community and that growth begins in the Open division. Given time, the skill level will rise again with new blood. New players need to experience the "real" competitive side of 6's and not what Valve has given them. Skill level does not matter at all. I couldn't really give 2 shits about how Invite for S23 matches up against the glory days of the past. You always have mediocre (at best) invite players trashing the IM division every season and it means nothing every season.



What really matters is the growth of the competitive community and that growth begins in the Open division. Given time, the skill level will rise again with new blood. New players need to experience the "real" competitive side of 6's and not what Valve has given them.

22 #22 Hellbent 21 Frags – + Tsarbucks half of Invite is dying, a lot of IM will go there, lowering the skill floor to get into ESEA-IM.



I don't know where in Open you are (or if you're in Open), but if you are in high to mid open, you might get into IM, if IM is around next season. botmode I wouldn't be surprised if we lose IM this season fluf Who's ready for Slinvite? Apt Somewhat disappointing news that IM's skill ceiling is going to lower a bit due to the invite slots filling up and many teams dying tsc ESEA has announced Season 23 of its league, provisionally scheduled to begin September 11th, 2016 and end December 19th, 2016. PANIC [quote=Tsarbucks]half of [b]Invite is dying[/b], a lot of IM will go there, [b]lowering the skill floor[/b] to get into ESEA-IM.



I don't know where in Open you are (or if you're in Open), but if you are in high to mid open, you might get into IM, [b]if IM is around next season[/b].[/quote]



[quote=botmode]I wouldn't be surprised if we lose IM this season[/quote]



[quote=fluf]Who's ready for Slinvite?[/quote]



[quote=Apt]Somewhat disappointing news that IM's skill ceiling is going to lower a bit due to the invite slots filling up and [b]many teams dying[/b][/quote]



[quote=tsc]ESEA has announced Season 23 of its league, provisionally scheduled to begin [b]September 11th[/b], 2016 and end December 19th, 2016.[/quote]



PANIC

23 #23 Covoo 24 Frags – + At this point in invite I don't even care if "its not as good as old invite". I just got really tired of the finals never being a surprise because it would always go to Froyo. The lower bracket finals have been the most interesting part of invite for the last few seasons because they've mostly been REALLY close. At this point in invite I don't even care if "its not as good as old invite". I just got really tired of the finals never being a surprise because it would always go to Froyo.



The lower bracket finals have been the most interesting part of invite for the last few seasons because they've mostly been REALLY close.

24 #24 tatuwah 23 Frags – + why does every1 think esea is dying every season why does every1 think esea is dying every season

25 #25 Super- 5 Frags – + tatuwah why does every1 think esea is dying every season blame overwatch this season [quote=tatuwah]why does every1 think esea is dying every season[/quote]

blame overwatch this season

26 #26 Erratic 9 Frags – + Even if ESEA dies for TF2, there's Faceit coming. Show Content But pls, let ESEA live. Even if ESEA dies for TF2, there's Faceit coming.



[spoiler]But pls, let ESEA live.[/spoiler]

27 #27 tsc 27 Frags – + Erratic Even if ESEA dies for TF2, there's Faceit coming.

Show Content But pls, let ESEA live. I really doubt FACEIT is interested in putting up $17,000 leagues for TF2 right now. [quote=Erratic]Even if ESEA dies for TF2, there's Faceit coming.



[spoiler]But pls, let ESEA live.[/spoiler][/quote]



I really doubt FACEIT is interested in putting up $17,000 leagues for TF2 right now.

28 #28 Smin 6 Frags – + Don't we go through these scares every season? Don't we go through these scares every season?

29 #29 bl4nk 31 Frags – + Except those scares are valid with there being an actual game that has poached a large part of the playerbase. Except those scares are valid with there being an actual game that has poached a large part of the playerbase.