Pokemon USA announced that Pokemon TCG Diamond & Pearl: Secret Wonders pre-release events will be held in cities across the country on the weekends of October 27-28 and November 3-4.  The pre-release tournaments, which are segmented by age, will allow players to preview and play with unreleased cards from the upcoming Pokemon TCG Diamond & Pearl: Secret Wonders Expansion, which officially goes on sale on November 7th.

An admission fee for the events is charged at the door and the price of entry includes six booster packs of the Secret Wonders Expansion from which each player builds his or her deck for the tournament.  In addition to the cards from the six booster packs participants also will receive a Pokemon TCG Diamond & Pearl: Secret Wonders pre-release promo card and a Secret Wonders promotional item (while supplies last).  Players who complete the tournament will receive two additional booster packs of Diamond & Pearl: Secret Wonders cards.

With pre-release events generating controversy among hobby game retailers (see 'Steven Olsen of Little Shop of Comics on CCG Pre-Releases' and 'Dave Salisbury of Fan Boy Three on Pre-Releases'), ICv2 had some questions for Pokemon USA about the Secret Wonders pre-release events:

Where are these events being held?

Our events are held in venues appropriate for families.  Many of our events are held in comic or game shops, but, many others are held in libraries, or recreation centers.  Generally, even the events not held directly in a hobby or retail venue, have some level of retail sponsorship.

Can retailers sign up to hold these events?

Retailers can apply to hold these events.  However, there are many criteria that are used to select venues and organizers for Prerelease events.  It is very important to Pok?mon USA, Inc that Prerelease tournaments are large, fun events where many players can come together to play with the upcoming set.  Therefore, we are very careful not to place too many events into one area.  In addition, with four days of events, too many events in a close area leads to players purchasing too much product prior to the release by attending multiple events.  Organizers applying for these events must have already run and completed at least four basic POP events before they will be considered.

Does Pokemon USA provide materials for these events to retailers?

Pok?mon Organized Play supplies all product and prize materials for these events.  Organizers must pay for the product to be used.

Who organizes these events?

Pokemon USA's organized play division organizes these events. The office is located in Bellevue, WA (outside Seattle)