With the 5 year anniversary of VCT beginning, i think it'd be a cool idea to bring back the lock-in format for an event. As a celebration of the game and VCT, all Partnered teams get put in single elimination best 2/3 gauntlet style tournament. Lock in was the highlight of that year NO DOUBT and I'd love to see Something like it come back. Especially with teams all around the world getting way better, it won't be just predicted teams sweeping everything cough Fnatic and Loud are washed cough. But for real, for the 1st time, Pacific and China have been showing up and proving themselves as regions. I would love to see lock in come back. I miss you.

Franchising is kinda not the best so here's 5 things I would change (if I were in charge)

1. Survivors/fighting for your spot
   Top 6 WORST performing teams (probably points if they continue that system) fight to stay alive and compete again in tier 1. 2 teams get booted BUT get to fight in ascension (so this would come before ascension) for the chance to get back in.
2. More chances for tier 2
   2 teams get to ascend with the mentioned 2 booted. With the idea of 2 teams being forced to fight for survival in ascension, it also will prove in a way that tier 2 is just as scary as tier 1 and that they deserve to play in VCT. I'm ok with keeping how tier 2 works...but I also think it's stupid how much challengers leagues and stuff teams have to go through, so I think 1st place should auto get put into ascension (maybe) and 2nd auto gets put into playoffs? Or both in play offs. Also let last 2 fight premier winners or something for chance to go to tier2? Idk they really need to implement premier better in my opinion and change how the tier 2 scene works.
3. Point system kinda dumb
   How come winning masters madrid gave 3 points and no points during kickoff to one point for win and 5 points for winning int. MAKE THEM EVEN- i know seeing the growth of teams is cool and all, but if your gonna try to make a fair system, keep it consistent.
4. All games should be in a big arena
   Group stage champs basically being played in a random ahhh building was not very fun, ALL group and Playoff games should be in a big arena. What makes watching VCT enjoyable is THE FANS, ofc the game is why we watch, but cmon riot.
5. Play ins for tier 1 and 2?
   Basically I personally want LCQ back. Single elimination chaos games. The funnest games to watch. Lock in without the problems lol. Of course this would only be for ascension and champs. Since having one for every masters would be impossible.

We all watched the deconstruction of EMEA with Ludwig x Tarik- showing a lot of faith in new stars like Reduxx and old ones like Cryo who looks revitalized. It poses the question how scary the Americas are this year as a region. With new super teams in leviathan and NRG and Sentinels new rosters, it's a coin toss to who's gonna be the ones rolling the floor. Just off the few off-season events, I would be keeping my eye on the new sentinels roster, Leviathan (basically just becoming 2023 EG atp), NRG (mostly because the drama funny af), and CLOUD9 who i honestly think have a great chance basically fixing the problems in last year's comp and the question mark being Xeppaa, but Oxy, and Moose still look great and Vic and Rossy are great pickups. As well as international teams becoming an actual threat and entertaining to watch, It only keeps me excited to see this new era of comp. Valorant.