Call of Duty: Experience 2011
First Activision convention celebrating Call of Duty with a $1 million tournament.
In September 2011, Activision launched its first official fan convention for the Call of Duty franchise, held over two days in Los Angeles. The event was staged inside and around a 12-acre hangar, where Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games presented the upcoming *Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3* alongside the new online service, Call of Duty: Elite. Attendees could take part in a range of activities, including a $1 million tournament, live music, paintball, off-road Jeep rides, zip-lining, and a full-scale replica of Burger Town from *Modern Warfare 2*.
The convention took place at 5600 Campus Center Drive in Playa Vista, inside a hangar once owned by Howard Hughes. The space was fitted with flat-screen TVs, monitors, speakers, projectors, and Xbox 360 consoles, courtesy of Xbox sponsorship, and decorated with props and replicas from the games. Outside, a paintball course recreated the *Modern Warfare 2* map “Scrapyard,” while Jeep sponsored an obstacle course for attendees. A life-size replica of the MOUT training course “The Pit” from *Modern Warfare 2* was also built, along with a zip-line and juggernaut sumo wrestling.
Tickets went on sale July 19, 2011, at $150 each, with a limit of two per purchase and an age requirement of 18 or older. Each ticket was a two-day pass, and buyers received a goodie bag and a voucher for the Hardened Edition of *Modern Warfare 3*. Over 6,000 fans reportedly attended, and Livestream reported that the event was the second most-watched stream in the site’s history.
The $1 million tournament featured 32 teams of four in a single-elimination bracket, with four slots filled by on-site attendees. The finals saw OpTic Gaming (USA) defeat Team Infinity (UK) in a best-of-five series, winning the $400,000 grand prize. The matches were shout-cast by pros Hastro and Fwiz.
Four official panels were held over the two days. Day one included panels on Call of Duty: Elite clans and groups, and the voices behind the series’ characters. Day two featured a panel on the making of *Black Ops* multiplayer and a discussion on the Zombies mode, covering map creation, Easter eggs, and favorite dialogue.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Video gaming
- Location
- Playa Vista, / Los Angeles, California
- Country
- United States
- First
- 2011
- Organizer
- Activision
- Attendance
- About 6,000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Call of Duty: XP 2011 was held in Los Angeles from September 2–3, 2011. It was hosted in and around a 12-acre hangar, once owned by Howard Hughes, at 5600 Campus Center Drive, Playa Vista, California. The hangar was outfitted with flat screen TVs and monitors, speakers, projectors, and Xbox 360s. Outside, fan attractions included a paintball course modeled after the multiplayer level 'Scrapyard' from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a 'Jeep Ops Experience' obstacle course, a replica of Burger Town, a life-size replica of 'The Pit' training course, a zip-line, and juggernaut sumo wrestling. Tickets went on sale July 19, 2011, at $150, restricted to two per purchase and only for those 18 and up. Attendees received a goodie bag and a voucher for the Hardened Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Reader's Guide
Call of Duty: XP 2011 marked a significant milestone as the first major convention dedicated entirely to the Call of Duty franchise, setting a precedent for future gaming expos. Its $1 million tournament, won by Optic Gaming, helped elevate competitive Call of Duty into a mainstream esports spectacle. The event also served as a platform for major announcements, including details on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer overhaul—introducing strike packages and the 'Kill Confirmed' game mode—and the unveiling of the Call of Duty: Elite subscription service. By blending fan attractions, developer panels, and competitive play, the convention demonstrated Activision's commitment to building a community around its blockbuster series. Livestream reported that CoD: XP 2011 was the second most viewed stream in the website's history, underscoring its cultural impact. A second Call of Duty: XP event was held in 2016.
Did You Know?
- The hangar used for the event was once owned by Howard Hughes.
- The paintball course was modeled after the 'Scrapyard' level from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
- Optic Gaming won the $400,000 grand prize in the $1 million tournament.
- The event was the second most viewed stream in Livestream's history at the time.
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