What is WPN Premium and how do you qualify?

How Premium differs from Core WPN

Core WPN is the entry tier — sanctioned events, basic prize support, prerelease access. Premium layers on larger product allocations, marketing co-investment, and the ability to host events that Core stores can't (e.g. Regional Championship Qualifiers in some regions).

What it takes to qualify

Premium requires more dedicated play space (typically 8+ tables minimum), proven event cadence (multiple sanctioned Magic events per week), demonstrated player engagement metrics (often tracked through WPN Tickets), and sustained product purchasing through Wizards' distributors.

Wizards reviews Premium status periodically. Stores can lose Premium if event frequency or engagement drops below thresholds.

Related terms

• WPN — The Wizards Play Network (WPN) is Wizards of the Coast's official retailer programme for Magic: The Gathering. WPN status grants a shop access to prerelease kits, organised-play prize support, sanctioned-event tools, and the right to identify itself as a recognised Magic store.
• Prerelease — A prerelease is the in-store event held the week before a new trading-card set hits general retail. Players pay an entry fee to open sealed product from the new set early, build a deck, and play in a small tournament — usually with promotional cards as prize support.
• Friday Night Magic — Friday Night Magic (FNM) is the weekly recurring casual Magic: The Gathering event run on Friday evenings at WPN-recognised stores. It's the most consistent in-store event in trading-card retail and the backbone of most card shops' Friday revenue.