Legion Releases Statement on PT Conflict

by News | posted at 2010-09-02 03:21:00
tagged: MTG, Magic, Magic the Gathering, Pro Tour, PT, Magic Cruise, Legion Events, Steve Port, Aaron Forsythe, MC3, Magic Weekend, Legion, MC

With the announcement of their Pro Tour rebranding into "Magic Weekends" recently it was revealed by Wizards of the Coast that the first Pro Tour of 2011, Pro Tour-Paris, would conflict with a portion of the dates for the Magic Cruise. The Cruise, run by Steve Port of Legion Events, is in its third year of existence and features a mini Magic con of sorts on a cruise ship. Featuring approximately 100 participants each year, 60 of which purchase Magic event badges to compete in sanctioned events on the boat, the Cruise regularly draws a lot of attention and effusive reports from those who have attended. The event also features Magic VIPs who give presentations and seminars on board with previous event's hosting names like Patrick Chapin, Evan Erin, and numerous employees from Wizards of the Coast.

In response to the revelation, Legion Events's Steve Port posted a public statement on the matter to the Legion Events website. It read in part:

"Well, it finally went live today, the Mother ship has announced a rebranding of Pro Tours into what will now be called 'Magic weekend.' This means great things for non-pros as well as competitive types. It’ll be like the PT many of you have experienced, but BIGGER. I’ve gotten some rumors of things coming down the pipe and while I don’t know details of anything, this should be a great step for PTs. Party time!

In the jumbling of things apparently a date got missed (or possibly ignored, who can stop the turning gears?) and despite being told that I *should* be safe for MC3 (I had hoped for no domestic GPs and no PTs that weekend, and no one at HQ guaranteed my safety on those dates, just thought that it SHOULD be OK) it turned out not to be. I know there were some scheduling hassles, you guys cant imagine how hard it is to coordinate a show of that size all around the world! Unfortunately I have to plan these cruises a year out to get the good rates. And I know that the next year schedule rarely hits before august. so it’s a bit scary waiting and hoping. Last year I got munched by GP Oakland, this year we’re getting munched by the Magic Weekend in France. C’est la vie. :)"

The body of the announcement remained polite and gave no hint of bitterness on behalf of Port towards Wizards over the scheduling conflict. This no doubt is a result of years spent managing public events for Wizards at large events like Pro Tours in addition to having a long standing relationship with the company. Port also revealed he would not be attending the cruise himself as a result of expecting a new addition to his family with wife Lindsey.

Participants on the cruise will still enjoy panels and seminars, with our own Bill Stark confirmed as a special guest of honor despite the scheduling conflict and Stark's status as a member of the official Wizards of the Coast press corps for Pro Tours. Additional speakers were hinted at by Port who indicated a number of Wizards of the Coast staff members, already booked for the trip, may give speeches on various subjects.

The date snafu was picked up by the Twitterverse, and no less a voice than Aaron Forsythe spoke up on the matter, saying through a series of tweets Wednesday:

"I do care that PT Paris coincides with the Magic Cruise; I wish it wasn't true. I will certainly discuss why this is so with my coworkers...We aren't going to be able to change the PT date, but hopefully the discussion will help us avoid these conflicts in the future...Wizards appreciates the work Steve Port does with the Cruise and I have employees that attend it. We want to support endeavors like that."

The full announcement on the matter from Legion Events is available here. More information on the Magic Cruise 3 can be found here.

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