More than 90 percent of Wizards Play Network Local Game Stores say Secrets of Strixhaven prerelease went rather well for them.
In a poll run online by Wizards of the Coast, 93 percent of respondents say their experience with the Strixhaven prerelease was "Very Positive" with another five percent saying it was "Positive."
"Great start to the day, a few hundred people waiting for us to open and a steady line all afternoon," says Sean Johnson, owner of Brute Force Games in San Diego, Calif. "All five events are sold out and we have a waitlist 10+ for all events. This is as good as it gets."
Chris Prolux, owner of Double Midnight Comics & Games in Manhester, NH, saw similar success with Strixhaven -- something he credits to the set being an in-universe Magic set rather than a Universes Beyond set like Ninja Turtles or Spider-Man.
"We always get record turnout for traditional Magic sets vs Universes Beyond," he comments. "Both of my stores hit capacity last night and product is flying. Lots of new excited faces. Would love more of a balance between traditional Magic sets and UB."
Other store owners are having similar findings with Strixhaven being an in-universe set versus one that relies on third-party IPs when it comes to their metrics.
Steven Bryant, owner of Battleground Gaming in Norwalk, Conn., says that his overall attendance for Friday and Saturday prerelease events for Strixhaven was 138 players. When Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the previous set released for Magic, Bryant says they only had 44 players total for the entire prerelease weekend.
For some store owners, the reason for the early success of Secrets of Strixhaven is simple.
Says Nick Barnes, co-owner of Rune & Board in Beaverton, Ore.: "Players are excited for in-multiverse Magic."
