When the Capcom Cup 2018 tournament details were finally announced, not everybody was entirely thrilled. Big E Gaming in particular happens to host their own fighting game tournament, the Northeast Championship (NEC 19), on the same dates. Where one mishap might be considered an accident or unfortunate circumstance, this seems to be the latest in a growing line of complications and frustrations with Capcom for Big E Gaming who have spoken out on the matter.

Capcom officially announced the dates and venue for the Capcom Cup on September 14, 2018 via the Capcom Fighters Twitter. Set for December 14-16, everything seems fine for Capcom Cup 2018, unless you had planned on going to the Northeast Championship tournament on the same days. Slated for the same weekend dates of December 14 to 16, 2018, Big E Gaming’s original and biggest tournament of their yearly schedule now falls in direct conflict with the Capcom Cup tournament. With the Northeast Championship at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania and the Capcom Cup across the country at the Luxor Casino Resort’s Esports Arena in Las Vegas, attending both isn’t an option.

Capcom Cup 2018 is heading to @ESALasVegas December 14-16!

32 of the best #SFVAE players in the world will compete for $250,000 + DLC Prize Pool Bonus.

We'll also have special guests to be announced later!

Read more here: https://t.co/m7qipHDD5P

Stay tuned for more details pic.twitter.com/80pChlMdOX

— Capcom Fighters (@CapcomFighters) September 14, 2018

After taking a weekend to absorb the news, Big E Gaming CEO Eric “Big E” Small had a response on the matter - frustration and disappointment to say the least.

“I don’t know what to say,” Small begins. “This is the 4th year in a row I had to change my date last minute and get hit with a fee from the venue.”

Is the move intentional by Capcom? Maybe and maybe not. In previous years, Capcom Cup has had to deal with the PlayStation Experience game industry event by Sony, which often took place in Anaheim right around the same time of year. Not wanting to have to compete with that, Capcom has often gone on the weekend before or after and Big E Gaming has tried to accommodate the best it could.

“No one has ever reached out to me,” Small explained. “Other than Peter Rosas the first year it happened.”

It can only be especially frustrating this year since the PlayStation Experience is nowhere in sight for 2018. Usually confirmed and announced far before now, many fans question whether the PSX event will even happen this year. Furthermore, since Capcom Cup is in Las Vegas instead of Anaheim where the PSX happens, the conflict is practically non-existent this year, making it’s scheduling on the same dates as the Northeast Championship particularly unfortunate.

“I moved my date from the first weekend in December to the 3rd weekend to stay out of Capcom’s way and still I get screwed,” Small expressed on the matter. "I guess someone high up doesn't like me or the Northeast."

Even so, what’s done is done. Despite complications, the Northeast Championship isn’t going away. Small is still intent on putting on the marquee event of his organization’s year and catering to the community that supports the Big E Gaming Scene. As the saying goes, “the show must go on,” and fans of Big E Gaming and NEC haven’t gone unheard.

Thank you to everyone for your recent support. For those that have been asking, #NEC19 will remain December 14-16, 2018.

— Big E Gaming (@BigEgaming) September 17, 2018

With both the Capcom Cup and Northeast Championship slated for December 14 - 16, 2018, be sure to stay tuned to the latest from Capcom Fighters and Big E Gaming to find out further details as they become available. Right now, most of the latest details for the Northeast Championship can be found on an event page on Facebook.