Magic Prerelease: 18th-20th September 2020
There will be no in-store gaming at Clifton Road Games before 1st October 2020.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation, there is guidance for schools, guidance for business, guidance for team sports, … None of which are exactly applicable, but all of which have some common ground with the in-store gaming situation. Every time I go through the guidance, I come away with the same thought:
“I can tick those boxes, but ultimately I know it’s a lie.”
Which is doubly weird because at some point, likely in the next few weeks, I’m going to look at a functionally identical situation and make the exact opposite decision.
The Bottom Line: Now is NOT the right time to re-start in-store organized play.
The right time might not be very far away, but it is not this weekend.
As was always likely following the population shuffle with the returns to school and university, COVID-19 infections are currently on the rise. Serious infections appear to be very low but the trend is up/increasing. We are all being asked to take measures to mitigate the risk of transmission and, for us, that means placing a further delay on the return of in-store gaming.
Financially, this one stings. The September Magic prerelease event is, without question, the largest single in-store gaming event of the year. It would be really nice, possibly really smart – for some, perhaps absolutely necessary – to take the business decision rather than the social decision, but …
Magic Prereleases are social events.
Gathering as many of the local Magic playing community in one place at one time, for a shared activity is the whole point. Prerelease is the best opportunity for us to reinforce playing Magic as a positive social experience.
Prerelease kits and Booster boxes will be on sale in-store from 10am Friday morning.
In-store gaming will resume at a later, safer date.
Clifton Road Games 