German Counter-Strike fan group Roaring Bears e.V. is considering staying away from IEM Cologne 2027 as a group in protest against ESL ticket pricing and the increasing monetization of the event. The group said the newly announced prices remain too high despite next year’s tournament not having Major status.
Roaring Bears previously protested against ESL pricing during the IEM Cologne Major 2026 and have now said they will discuss a possible boycott with their members.
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Roaring Bears criticize ESL pricing
In a public statement, the group pointed to the sharp increase in ticket prices at the 2026 Major and criticized additional paid experiences around the event.
One of their main examples was the guaranteed signing sessions introduced for IEM Cologne Major 2026. Tickets cost €30 during the blind-sale phase and €60 once participating teams were known, on top of the price of a regular event ticket.
“Paying €60 for a signing session, for a team which is not known at the time of purchase is frankly greedy.”
Roaring Bears argued that this approach risks making Counter-Strike events inaccessible to a significant part of the community.
Statement #IEM Cologne 2027 pic.twitter.com/9yTKGH5zpP
— Roaring Bears e.V. (@Roaring_Bears) October 2, 2026
The group has been active around BIG and Counter-Strike events for several years and has regularly organized fans at IEM Cologne.
IEM Cologne 2027 tickets reach €1,599
ESL announced the first ticket prices for IEM Cologne 2027 on October 1.
Wave 1 prices include €169 for a four-day Upper ticket, €279 for four days in the Lower level and €379 for Lower Reserved seating. A four-day Plus ticket costs €529, while Premium is priced at €729.
The most expensive package, The Sanctuary, costs €1,599 and includes access to a VIP lounge, catering, drinks, parking and additional services. An optional IEM+ upgrade is also available for €119.
Roaring Bears acknowledged that some prices are slightly lower than in 2026, but argued that the comparison is important because the previous Cologne event was a Major while the 2027 edition will return to the regular ESL Pro Tour.
“We know many fans cannot afford these prices. We believe that Counter-Strike should be for everyone, not just those that have money to burn.”
Group could stay away from the event
Roaring Bears said they are now considering not attending IEM Cologne 2027 as an organized group.
“For this reason, we are also considering staying away from the event as a group. We will discuss this with our members and decide together how we want to respond.”
No final boycott decision has been announced yet.
IEM Cologne 2027 will run from August 4–15, with the LANXESS Arena hosting four days of playoffs from August 12–15. The tournament will feature 24 teams, a new 360-degree stage and $1,250,000 in total winnings. Ticket pre-sales begin on October 13, followed by the first general-sale wave on October 15.
