Wizard Entertainment has announced a new alliance with Video Game Expo (VGXPO) for the companies’ Philadelphia shows, beginning this year.  The alliance will add a number of new elements to Wizard World Philadelphia in June, including VGXPO exhibitors; gaming contests; Retro Con – a retail section dedicated to classic and pre-owned games; the VGXPO Arcade Gaming Center; and Breaking In, programming to teach would-be game designers about the videogame industry.  The addition of VGXPO elements will add tens of thousands of square feet to the convention’s floor space, according to the announcement.

On the flip side, Wizard will provide content for the October VGXPO.  VGXPO drew 24,000 attendees in 2008, according to the announcement. 

In addition to the content exchange, the alliance also provides for cross-sponsorship between the shows. 

The alliance between VGXPO adds weight to Wizard’s Philly show in a category that’s been an important growth area for Reed Exhibitions’ New York Comic Con (see “NYCC Expecting ‘Fairly Significant Growth’”), and sets up a potential head-to-head competition in 2010 between VGXPO in Philadelphia and the new October dates for New York Comic Con (see “Reed Announces Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo”).