Games Done Quick announces that they are moving their annual speedrunning charity event, Awesome Games Done Quick to Pittsburgh, PA. The first AGDQ event to be held in Pittsburgh will be AGDQ 2024, which runs from January 14 through January 21, 2024.
In years past, AGDQ was typically held in venues located in Florida. Once COVID-19 hit (remember that?!), AGDQ turned to being an online-only event for a few years. AGDQ was supposed to return to an in-person event in January 2023, but Games Done Quick decided instead to just go online-only again because Florida had lax COVID regulations and is really only safe if you're middle or upper class, white, straight, and not trans. GDQ is very trans-inclusive and Florida is very much not welcoming to LGBTQ+ individuals. The rising cost of events held in Florida was also a contributing factor to GDQ's decision.
While Awesome Games Done Quick 2024 will return to the in-person format, GDQ says that any runner that wishes to run a game remotely can do so if they desire. Submissions from runners looking to participate in AGDQ 2024 will be open from September 1 - 10.
In 2024, AGDQ will again raise money to benefit the Prevent Cancer Foundation. A specific venue within Pittsburgh where AGDQ 2024 will be held has not yet been mentioned anywhere.
This is also why you don't always see organizers immediately cancel or postpone events when the coronavirus escalated from an epidemic to a pandemic. The choice was to be instantly sued from breach of contract, or to take the time and have a ton of meetings to gradually convince venue staff that the business relationship isn't over, but requires a reschedule due to safety reasons. Maybe even include a settlement penalty payment to make up for the unexpected vacancy AND the reservation for next year, which prevents other clients from taking it.