Changes to Big Tournaments

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/news/041411a

The 3 big things:

1. Double the number of GP's
2. Pro Tours will no longer have side events (they're just a "private event")
3. No more big regional pre-releases

One is awesome. I love GP's, even if it's just for trading, and it's frustrating that the two closest ones this year are Pittsburgh and Providence.

Two is not much of an issue. I mean, I've gone to a Pro-Tour just to hang out before, but it's rare, and I don't mind just going to one of the GP's instead.

Three... ugh. I LOVE the big regional pre-releases. I've been going since Urza's Saga (which is where I got my first-foil-ever-printed (sorta) Lightning Dragon. Some of you remember the old days where they were 8 round events that went well into the night. I love the fact that there is a huge trading pool of people who typically don't come out to trade. And I love the multiple dealers together in one place to raid the rare bin. I like the pre-releases, because they feel like a big event, as opposed to another FNM at your local store. I'm disappointed about this, but hopefully the additional GP's will make up for it. It still won't be the same.

I'm not a big fan of the news either, I really look forward to going to the Pre-Releases and doing all the events that are normally only offered there (2HG, side-drafts, etc). It's also pretty sad there will be no more side-events at the GP's, I've only been to 1 or 2 of them, but having the ability to do something other than play at the main tournament was always fun.

All in all, a lot of sad news for me. Though the fact that there isn't one big Pre-Release event does mean I can hit several of the smaller, local events on the Pre-Release/Release Weekends.

this is retarded. i hope Gray Matter finds a loophole.

things we can't do anymore:

• two-headed giant
  
• trading with a mass amount of people
  
• be assured a spot at a prerelease (local store events will fill up quicker)
  
• have Reading Terminal lunches

i really liked those events downtown. i don't know anything about GPs or PTs... so there's that.

redxxii wrote:also pretty sad there will be no more side-events at the GP's, I've only been to 1 or 2 of them, but having the ability to do something other than play at the main tournament was always fun.

There will be side events at the GP's, just not the Pro Tours. I'm hoping Philly in September will still use the old system.

Aww, Reading Terminal... now I'm getting all teary-eyed...

Pro Tour Philly should still be open to anyone, if I'm the article right. It seems the listed changes go into effect for next year, aside from the regional pre-release thing which kicks in with M12. So New Phyrexia'll be the last of them at the convention center.