[Community Discussion]: Seasonal changes
General forum
Posted on March 12, 2014, 11:39 a.m. by Epochalyptik
Some of us are still in school. Some of us have full-time jobs and the same year-round schedule. But all of us like the game.
What times of year do you notice attendance at FNM, or even just opportunities to play, change? College campuses are generally busiest in the fall and spring, so local stores will see more traffic at those times. But what about other locations? Is your LGS consistent? Do they schedule events around local calendars? Does one time of year offer more or better play than another?
KnightsBattlecry001 says... #3
My LGS stays about the same year round. Only time it is a little lower is during the summer when people are on vacation and all that.
March 12, 2014 12:17 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #4
Summer time, we average about 40-50 players on fridays, whereas during the heavy school testing times, we get about 17-20. We have a lot of kids 6th-college, so that's a pretty major factor.
March 12, 2014 3:05 p.m.
I only go to local magic events during term time because there's no lgs in my hometown - therefore I can only go when I'm at university.
March 12, 2014 10:49 p.m.
miracleHat says... #6
I go when i find the set fun to draft. There isn't any standard/modern/legacy/edh, only draft. In a set like bng/theros, it is really bad so not as many people show up. When it was dragon's maze, there was more people including me that i have ever seen. I live a mile away from my lgs so it is an easy commute and i normally don't travel. I am not in college though there is one right across from my lgs and i find that it helps the store bring in costumers (though the college is small).
March 12, 2014 10:54 p.m.
We see an increase in attendance when school is out. Winter can get crowded as it gets quite cold here, but school can keep away players. I do notice that the crowd is more college student based in the school year, and more adult/highschooler based in the summer.
March 12, 2014 11:50 p.m.
Dalektable says... #8
School is a pretty major for me personally. Weeks in mid winter/testing times we see like half the attendance. During the summers we have a pretty big difference, going from 20-30 people tourneys to 30-45. We have a fair amount of kids that go to my FNM, enough to warrant the store to have Youth FNM's on occasion. (Just like a normal FNM except with highschool seniors and younger. It's a really nice environment and we get to see some pretty awesome innovative decks) So as a wrap up summer's are busy for us and winter's are slow.
March 13, 2014 8:17 a.m.
thedoctorwho says... #9
The LGS I attend has the same attendance year round. Most of the folks who play are those out of college, and kids with their dads. So we average around 20 folks.
March 13, 2014 1:13 p.m.
tigersfan774 says... #10
My lgs is fairly constant as well I think. We have a good mix of all ages so in winter we lose a few younger people to school related activities but in summer it always seems like people are traveling or working summer jobs so it evens out more or less. I also usually attend a smaller store though so fluctuation wouldn't be as severe as some bigger shops.
March 14, 2014 9:28 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #11
I only play EDH, and there is always some people there. Even FNM many people come just to play EDH. Have not been going there long, just picked the game back up 6 months or so ago. So I have no idea.
March 14, 2014 11:12 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #12
I live on an army base. The LGS here doesn't have a "seasonal" change, like a college would. A couple player might be from the same unit, and if they have to go for a while, you won't see the two of them for nearly a year.
I suppose the middle of the summer would be where things get crazy, units go to field rotations and people move during the summer. (Most guys join right after high school, so the summer is always the time for them to move to another base).
Other than that, the player base stays pretty solid throughout the year. Since my LGS is the only one that offers a military discount on singles, you best believe that the owner has the monopoly in that market. Lol.
March 16, 2014 8:22 a.m.
My LGS is awesome! They schedule weekly events and release events consistently. There are always plenty of people there when I come after school hours but if I drop buy while schools are in session, sometimes I'm the only person there. I think most of the attendees work and / or go to school during the day.
Sometimes there are people playing other games besides the scheduled event for the night.
I can't give the best description of seasonal changes because I, myself am a seasonal changer in my attendance. School absolutely keeps me home some nights. The holidays also kept me busy (although December/January holidays were busier than November holidays - and I technically won't have summer holidays). During the summer I become far more regular, but only about every other week (on the off weeks there are lots of summer road trips going on and other things / events).
March 16, 2014 8:53 a.m.
McSleuthburger says... #14
there is the same college experience at my LGS, but with me Im out of college and have to work early Saturday morning form March - November so I barely go to events though I would love to be able to go to more throughout the year
March 16, 2014 9:01 a.m.
mymanpotsandpans says... #15
From a college perspective I would say that during the spring and fall my LGS see more business over all with the student body. But even with the student body there is less people going to FNM. Mostly people play at other places or are to busy. But on release dates or organized game days ect, people pop out of thin air and swarm the LGS. Over the summer I have no idea of what happens at my LGS because its no longer Local.
gufymike says... #2
I think locally, it's that the winter holiday season is a bit slower than normal, if that. People traveling to see families and all that. Come big tournament time, the store might not have the customers around it normally has (for mtg, dnd/yugi-oh still has people), Because we're all travelling to some tournament or what not. But in general, slow down is around xmas-new years. Which is minimal at most. Summer seems to have a few extra people around, but being a small town, it's mostly just because guys who lived here and back from college break come around, since they're home.
March 12, 2014 11:51 a.m.