1. If the past is any indicator...
.. BeyondTheSummit knows how to put up a great show and knows how to integrate the pros properly into the stream. High quality games, with a lot of fluff content in-between and the occasional pro-player cast. The Summit offered all of it and brought a bit of HomeStoryCup feel to the Dota scene. BeyondTheSummit found a perfect balance between hosting a serious, highly competitive tournament, while producing a relaxing and surely entertaining show that is different from everything else. The fans certainly picked up on all of this, building up quite the hype around the event. In addition, BTS also enabled the "Fan Redemption Vote", which allowed compendium owners to vote for their favorite team to qualify for LA. A whole campaign ensued, building even more hype around The Summit 2.
2. The casters
The BTS house is already filled with a variety of personalities and HighGroundTV caster KotlGuy has brought yet another layer to the studio, especially with his infamous soundboard. He is however not the only new face in comparison to The Summit 1.
Video producer and caster PyrionFlax as well as DotaCinema's SUNSfan will join the house to provide an additional portion of entertainment. Whether it will be as casters or just for in-between banter, both will be expected to elevate the entertainment value. We may not get bathtub interviews anymore, but listening to papa Pyrion tell stories or play Dungeons and Dragons while SUNSfan handles the grill sounds pretty appealing, doesn't it?
What's hopefully going to be more appealing is the infamous Enchantress cosplay. Australian caster GoDz has lost a bet a long time ago to fellow Australian TobiWan, thus being forced to dress up as the sproinky jungler. An official LAN attendance in said costume has yet to happen, but he has shown earlier that the outfit is now close to being complete.
3. Bromance overload
Black^ and IceIceIce, Puppey and Kuroky, Arteezy and... well all of EG. The Summit 2 will feature a lot of friends coming together and not only in the teams, but also between each other. The players are friends with each other, support each other and that is a recipe for success when it comes to hosting these tournaments with an intimate setting. The fact that BigDaddyN0tail and Universe actively advocated for Cloud9 to be voted in, shows that there is a healthy relationship between most of the players that will be attending.
Whether it's another tricast or fluff videos in-between games, The Summit is the perfect environment for the players to relax, yet still provide a lot of entertainment for the viewers at home, such as with videos like these:
4. EternalEnvy's hair and the curse
If you think you already read a title like this, then it is likely because you in fact already did. EternalEnvy's hair was already at stake when Cloud9 played in the LAN portion of DreamLeague Season 2, but the team failed to grab first place, but more importantly, the team failed once more against Evil Geniuses. It was not as bad as during WEC, but Cloud9 once more could not beat their rivals, but also friends, EG, thus securing their sixth second place on LAN this year. Only one LAN left for the mainly European squad to take a title in this year. The Summit 2 will be the last chance for C9 to break the seemingly never ending curse of second places.
5. South-American pride
Not Today will be the first South-American team to make an appearance in a notable Dota 2 LAN event. The Peruvians are the South-American version of next.kz, a roster that in its core has seemingly never changed and persisted throughout the years with a few name changes. Unlike the Kazakh's however, Not Today has steadily improved and has played jump-rope on the edge from tier 2 team to tier 1. Despite going through the playoffs undefeated, Not Today is still considered as the underdog of the tournament, especially because they are playing without Masoku. He has been replaced by Fogged as he could not get a visa.
Even if they don't, Not Today is already a winner, increasing their fanbase and having the possibility to increasing it even further. It is usually very tough for South-American teams or Asian teams, generally teams that don't primarily communicate in English and don't attend many Western LANs, to build a proper fanbase outside their own region. Usually, a team like this would have a tough time, growing fans and recognition outside of Peru. But not today.
