Quick U-turn: BLAST will now cover coach expenses at RMRs
BLAST has made a U-turn on their decision to only cover expenses for five team members.
After significant backlash from the community, tournament organizers BLAST has reversed their decision to exclude coach expenses from their upcoming RMR events. In an email sent to participating teams, BLAST announced that they will now cover accommodation, flights, visas, and catering expenses for up to six team members, including coaches.
The decision came after BLAST initially informed teams that expenses would only be covered for five team members, excluding coaches. This announcement was met with criticism, particularly as previous RMR cycles had provided coverage for up to six people, making the exclusion of coaches seem like a significant step back.
For smaller teams and organizations without significant financial backing, the change would have resulted in significant additional expenses, placing them at a disadvantage compared to their larger and better-funded competitors.
The move also sparked concerns among some in the community that Valve, the game’s developer, is showing a lack of support for coaches. Valve has previously implemented changes that limit what coaches can do during matches at events sponsored by the company, such as preventing them from making physical contact with their players and cheering them on outside of designated timeouts.
Many coaches and community figures such as Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo from Imperial, spoke out against the original decision and praised BLAST for reversing their stance.
