Dota 2
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The International 2013 Visitor Guide
By Jimo
This guide is written to assist visitors of the 2013 Dota 2 International being held in Seattle, Washington, USA between August 7th to August 11th.
   
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This guide has been archived and no further major edits will be made.
Introduction
This guide is written to assist visitors of the 2013 Dota 2 International being held in Seattle, Washington, USA between August 7th to August 11th.

This travel guide will give you insight on where to find accommodation, how to get around the city, recommended bars and restaurants and tourist attractions.


Purchasing a Ticket
Tickets for the event went on sale on the Dota 2 Store at 10:00 AM PDT on Tuesday, May 7th. They sold for $49.99 USD and are currently all sold out.



If you we're unsuccessful purchasing a ticket on the Dota 2 Store you might still be able to find one on the Steam Community Market or you can trade for one. Below are links to some of the most popular places you can look for people trading tickets.


If you're not familiar with how to use the Steam Community Market you can read my guide by clicking the button below.
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=137629753
Activating the Ticket
Before you activate your ticket make sure your e-mail address is verified with Steam. For instructions on how to do this click here.

From within the Dota 2 client click Store located at the top of the main menu. Once you're on the Store page you can then click on the Backpack tab.



Locate the International 2013 Ticket from the backpack and Right Click on it. Select the option which says Use.



You will then receive a popup which will ask you if you're sure you want to register the ticket.



Once you click Yes you'll receive a message letting you know the registration details will be sent to your e-mail.



Once you've activated your ticket from your backpack you'll receive an email from Steam Support. Within the email there is a button labeled Click here to claim your ticket. This button will pull up a PDF of your print out ticket, this must be printed out and presented at the door of the event to redeem your pass.



Additionally the top of the Dota 2 Main Menu will now display a ticket icon letting you know that you're registered for the International.



Clicking on the ticket will give you the option of re-sending your registration information to your verified Steam email address.

The Venue
The 2013 International will be returning to Benaroya Hall, the Home of the Seattle Symphony. It's located right in the middle of downtown Seattle and is within walking distance to numerous Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Tourist Attractions and more.

The doors to the event will open daily at 11am from the 7th of August until the 11th of August. Below is the official list of starting hours for each days event.

Main Event at Benaroya Hall
August 7: 12PM-> ~9-11PM
August 8: 12PM-> ~9-11PM
August 9: 12PM-> ~9-11PM
August 10: 12PM-> ~7-11PM
August 11: 12PM-> ~6-9 PM


Since this is a live sporting event, the ending times may vary. All times are listed in PST.

The physical address of the Benaroya Hall is as follows:

200 University St,
Seattle, WA 98101

The closest bus and train stop to the venue is called University Street and it's located underneath the building, accessible by elevator.

The interior is split into two sections. There is a lobby and an auditorium. During last years event food and drink were not permitted inside the auditorium and backpacks had to be checked in at the coat check located just outside of the lobby entrance.


Travelling to Seattle
If you're travelling to Seattle from a different country or state you can find some information on transport options below.

  • International Travelers[www.cbp.gov]
    If you're travelling to the United States it's advised to check the US Homeland Security website for details regarding prohibited items and travel documentation. Leaving home without the correct documentation could result in you being turned around at the airport. Everyone seeking entrance to the US will need a valid passport and some form of Visa.

    For more details click here.[www.cbp.gov]


  • Bolt Bus[www.boltbus.com]
    Travelers coming from Vancouver Canada or the US state of Oregon can ride the Bolt Bus to Seattle. For more details regarding the Bolt Bus service check out their website here[www.boltbus.com].


  • Greyhound Bus[www.greyhound.com]
    If you're look for a cheap way to travel from state to state you can ride a Greyhound Bus. Depending on where you're travelling from the ride can take several days. For more information check out the Greyhound Bus website.[www.greyhound.com]


  • Plane Travel
    If you're planning to fly to Seattle from within the United States I recommend checking out price comparison websites such as Priceline[www.priceline.com] or Expedia[www.expedia.com] for good deals. Airline ticket prices fluctuate daily, and tend to be more expensive the closer to the date.

Accommodation Options
Downtown Seattle has a wide variety of accommodation options from Hotels to Hostels. In the downtown area alone there are over 123 Hotels and 7 Hostels within reasonable travel distance to the Benaroya Hall.

  • For a list of Hotels located near the Benayora Hall click here[goo.gl].

  • For a list of Hostels located near the Benayora Hall click here[goo.gl].

Accommodation close to the SEATAC airport is cheaper, but it's a lot further from the venue. Lots of Hotels near the airport run a shuttle service to the closest Lightrail station, it's always a good idea to make sure such a service exists before you make reservations. Travel from SEATAC airport to the venue takes around 30 minutes by the Light Rail.

  • For a list of Hotels located near the SEATAC Airport click here[goo.gl].

Local Travel Information
Seattle is very pedestrian friendly. The city council has made it easy for visitors to travel around by foot and public transportation. Below are a list of numerous options to get around the City and back and from the airport.

  • Light Rail[www.soundtransit.org]
    The Central Light Rail service travels from SEATAC airport all the way to downtown Seattle. For more details such as timetables, visit Sound Transit online. [www.soundtransit.org]The University Street Station is built underneath the Benaroya Hall and the exit to the station emerges right at the entrance of the event.


  • Bus Routes[metro.kingcounty.gov]
    Benaroya Hall is also served by numerous bus routes. For more details, visit Metro online[metro.kingcounty.gov]. The Universty Street bus stop is built underneath the Benaroya Hall. The buses stop in the same area the trains board.


  • Taxi[www.ridecharge.com]
    Local Taxi Cabs will take you from Downtown Seattle to the Airport, and beyond. You can pre-book a Taxi Cab online or call the local companies dispatch line. For more details visit RideCharge online.[www.ridecharge.com]


  • Car[www.seattlesymphony.org]
    The 430-car underground garage at Benaroya Hall provides direct access from the enclosed parking area into the Hall via elevators leading to The Boeing Company Gallery. The garage entrance is on Second Avenue, just south of Union Street. For directions, click here[www.seattlesymphony.org]. For pricing details visit the Benaroya Hall website[www.seattlesymphony.org].


Additional travel information can be found on the Port of Seattle's website.


Sightseeing
Seattle has many world famous sights and attractions for tourists to look at. Below are a list of some of the most popular. Visit the City of Seattle's website[www.seattle.gov] for a full list of tourist attractions.

If sightseeing isn't something you're interested in and you have a car, you can visit the Gameclucks LAN Cafe[www.gameclucks.com] located in Lynnwood, WA. It's about a thirty minute drive from Benaroya Hall and you can play Dota 2 there. During the last International players from some of the most popular teams were spotted practicing. It's best to call ahead for availability in case it's fully booked or closed for spectators.

  • Space Needle[www.spaceneedle.com]
    One of the most iconic buildings in all of Seattle. The Space Needle is located about 7 minutes by car or 24 minutes by foot from Benaroya Hall. Ticket information and hours of operation can be found on the spaceneedle website[www.spaceneedle.com].




  • EMP Museum
    Located near the Space Needle, the EMP Museum is a Pop Culture, Music and Sci-Fi museum. A list of current Exhibits can be found here[www.empmuseum.org].





  • Pike Place Market[pikeplacemarket.org]
    The world famous Pike Place Market is a short walking distance from Benaroya Hall. A must see for all Seattle visitors, make sure to witness the famous fish throwers, pick up some Piroshkis at Piroshky Piroshky, have some mac and cheese at Beecher's Cheese and have a cup of coffee at the first Starbucks location. A list of vendors can be found on the Pike Place Market website[pikeplacemarket.org].





  • Safeco Field[seattle.mariners.mlb.com]
    If you're a fan of baseball or sports in general, the Seattle Mariner's Safeco Field can be found here[seattle.mariners.mlb.com].




  • Seattle Waterfront[www.seattlewaterfront.org]
    The Seattle Waterfront offers a wide variety of activities such as an Arcade, an Aquarium, private charters, cruises, restaurants, and Olympic Sculpture Park. More information can be found on their website.[www.seattlewaterfront.org]




  • Underground Tour[www.undergroundtour.com]
    If you're interested in learning about the history of Seattle's underground you can take a tour of the old constructions. For more details on the underground tour times click here. [www.undergroundtour.com]

Local Bars & Restaurants
Seattle has a lot of great Bars and Restaurants. Below are a few of my personal favorites to visit when I'm in the Seattle area. Please check the website for each destination for travelling directions and information.

For a full list of bars and restraunts within the surrounding area of the Benaroya Hall click here[goo.gl]. If you're looking to eat cheap there are several fast food restaurants[goo.gl] within a one two radius of the hall such as McDonalds, Subway, Chipotle and more. In true Seattle fashion, a Starbucks is located in the foyer of Benaroya Hall.

  • Gameworks[www.gameworks.com]
    Gameworks is an arcade with a bar. They allow drinking whilst playing games and it's a frequent hangout for people from the gaming industry during the month of PAX. All ages are accepted until 22:00 when it turns to 18+ only. Gameworks is located in Downtown Seattle and It's within walking distance from the Benayora Hall.




  • Elephant & Castle Pub[www.elephantcastle.com]
    The Elephant & Castle is a UK themed pub and restaurant located on the bottom level of the Red Lion hotel. It's only a few blocks away from the Benaroya Hall.




  • The Pike[www.pikebrewing.com]
    If you've ever had a beer from a brewing company called Pike's then this is where it came from. The Pike is a great restaurant which has a full arsenal of craft beers on the menu.




  • Bamboo Garden Vegetarian Cuisine[www.bamboogarden.net]
    If you're a vegetarian and you're willing to drive a short distance, Bamboo Garden is a popular spot for Chinese vegetarian cuisine located about 10 minutes away from Benaroya Hall by car.


  • Piroshky Piroshky[www.piroshkybakery.com]
    Located in the Pike Place Market, Piroshky Piroshky sells a selection of Russian pastries from Sweet to Savory. They also offer vegetarian variants.




  • The Crumpet Shop[www.thecrumpetshop.com]
    One of my favorite shops located just outside Pike Place Market, The Crumpet Shop sells crumpets with a variety of toppings; if you've never had a crumpet[en.wikipedia.org], you're missing out. They are open until 15:00 daily.





  • Seattle Street Food Festival[seastreetfoodfest.com]
    From 5pm to 11pm on Saturday August 10th the Seattle Street Food Festival will be taking place at 1635 11th Ave[maps.google.com]. Entrance is free and there will be lots of different types of street food to try!

Suggestions
If you've visited Seattle or live there locally and have any suggestions that you feel should be added to this guide, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I will be doing my best to keep the information in this guide as relevant as possible up until and during the event. If you're interested in looking at the photos I took from the 2012 International click here[www.jimo.co.uk].

Closing Notes
If you have any questions or comments regarding this guide please feel free to leave a comment below.



You can also check out all of my other Steam Guides here.


https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=144566542
63 Comments
Nistegord 3 Aug, 2013 @ 10:02am 
Hey, do they sell food and drinks at benaroya hall? or do you have to buy it from outside?
Aggrobunny 27 Jul, 2013 @ 7:57pm 
I have not been able to find an answer to this question; I am near Seattle and was not able to get a ticket to the event, if I dropped by the International, could I even get access to the venders for some of the Valve merch, or would I not be let in the door?
solar 29 Jun, 2013 @ 8:49am 
norm
0xCAFEBABE 18 May, 2013 @ 1:06pm 
Nice guide!
Sosseres 10 May, 2013 @ 1:23pm 
If I want to watch the Mariners play, which sections would be good to buy a seat in? I'm not a huge fan of the game but know the rules (mostly).
sasch 9 May, 2013 @ 11:44pm 
Such a nice guide, I wish I had purchased a ticket!
Lord BAN 9 May, 2013 @ 10:19pm 
Thanks!
Nistegord 9 May, 2013 @ 7:22pm 
you know when it should be starting on the 7th and when the grand final will be over on the 11th? booking my flights pretty quick.
Vismut 9 May, 2013 @ 4:13pm 
ty 4 info :)
Burn, Burn, Burn 9 May, 2013 @ 4:04pm 
Wonderful effortpost!