NBA 2K League Postseason Pass Up For Grabs When THE TICKET Comes to Orlando
June 4, 2019
The most pivotal tournament in the NBA 2K League season is coming to Orlando.
THE TICKET powered by AT&T, the league’s third and final tournament of the season, will take place on Thursday, June 13 through Saturday, June 15 at The Fortress at Full Sail University.
All 21 NBA 2K League teams, including Magic Gaming, will compete for a prize pool of $180,000 and an automatic spot in the postseason.
Last season, despite having the same 8-6 record as four teams that advanced to the playoffs, Magic Gaming missed out on the final spot in the postseason due to Knicks Gaming claiming THE TICKET title. New York entered the tournament with a 3-6 regular season record, and without the postseason pass would not have qualified for the playoffs. However, making the most of their automatic postseason berth, Knicks Gaming went on to win the 2018 NBA 2K League championship.
“We would love to win THE TICKET and get our seed in,” Magic Gaming Head Coach Jonah Edwards explained. “But we’re working on ironing everything out to make sure even if we don’t win THE TICKET we’re still going to be in a position to make it into the playoffs.”
Magic Gaming may have an advantage as it won’t have to travel for the tournament. Normally, the squad flies up to New York for its weekly matchups. However, they’ll be able to enjoy the comforts of home as THE TICKET unfolds.
“It’s great, especially from my perspective,” Edwards said. “Obviously, we travel to New York every week, so being able to stay home, avoid the flights, and shuttle to the facility from our apartments is incredible. Sleeping in our own beds and things like that is definitely an advantage.”
Fans will have the opportunity to watch the matchups unfold live at The Fortress, the largest esports arena to occupy a college campus in the United States.
“It’s everything, if not more, than what the 2K League is expecting,” Edwards said. “It’s going to be an awesome way for Full Sail to show off their facilities and unveil it to the world. The 2K League will be wowed by it.”
Single-day tickets will be $20 and a full three-day tournament package will go for $30. Full Sail University students can receive 50% off with a valid college ID. Tickets will go on sale at NBA2KLeague.com later this week.
“The environment is intense, it’s competitive, there’s lots of trash talking and fun being had,” Edwards added. “It’s definitely entertaining and anyone who’s not necessarily an NBA 2K fan or Orlando Magic Gaming fan can still enjoy this.”
Although Magic Gaming still has two games this week before the start of THE TICKET, the team has been on a roll since making a mid-season trade to acquire Brandon “ToXsiK” Raudenbush from Grizz Gaming in exchange for Mykel “KelMav” Wilson.
Orlando is 2-0 since the deal and won its last two contests by a combined 40 points.
“I don’t think we’ve looked this good all year,” Edwards said. “There’s still a lot to work on for sure, but the way we beat who we beat says a lot about us. I think that the sky is the limit for this group.”
They’ll look to reach their potential over the next two months and qualify for the playoffs, which run for three days and culminate with the 2019 NBA 2K League Finals on Saturday, Aug. 3.