Joe Becker of The Gamers Den in Cambridge, Minnesota read David Luebke's Talk Back regarding WotC's Premier Store policy and the potential problems with Organized Play events (see "David Luebke of Dave's Comics on WotC Premier Stores") and had this to say.

Our store has been open now for 6-1/2 years, and Organized Play has been a part of our business model since day one.  Currently we rent our space from the city, in a shopping mall the city owns.  Not only do they allow us to hold OP events, but they also let us use the commons areas of the shopping mall for overflow and special events.  Thanks to this attitude from the city we have been able to hold Pro Tour qualifiers, Dreamblade 1k events, pre-releases and other WotC OP events, as well as Nationals and other special events for other gaming companies including Fantasy Flight Games and Upper Deck.  We have had minimal theft in the years we have been open, have kept our gaming space separated from our product space to minimize the possible threat, and our customers and players know we don't tolerate those kinds of activities--whether it be theft from the store or from other players.

Our store is geared towards a family atmosphere, so it is clean and organized.  We do not allow foul language or abusive language in our store or at our events.  This doesn't mean it doesn't occur, but when it does players either get a warning or kicked out of the store.  Very few people have needed more than one warning to curb their behavior.  We have a zero tolerance policy towards drugs and violence, and none of that happens at our store.

I can honestly say that having gaming space and being involved in multiple OP programs from multiple companies since we opened the store has been beneficial for our store.  When MechWarrior was still around our store would run weekly events, drawing on average a dozen players each week, and our distributors said we were ordering more MechWarrior than any other stores in the state.  With the changes WotC made to their OP program in the last 18 months, our store has qualified for more special events then ever before--events that bring with them not only sales, but also new and recurring customers.

There are many game stores that are successful and make money without having in-store events.  I'm not saying that Dave Luebke is wrong in not having OP at his store, but there are ways to have OP and open gaming that are area friendly.  I do not understand what he means about Organized Play when he says, "...as it is occurring these days."  As a store owner, he could create the OP atmosphere he wants and expects--even if that atmosphere is no OP.

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