<h2>"It's About Joyful Belonging"</h2>
We're one month out from the inaugural <a href="https://shoebox.gg/?utm_source=SpaceCow&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=Newsletter">Shoebox</a>!
What is Shoebox?
It's an event, and one that promises to bring together a community of Magic: The Gathering fans for a weekend to celebrate that mutual love of the game. <a href="https://shoebox.gg/badges">Badges are on sale now</a> for Shoebox, taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 13-15.
In their own words, Shoebox is a convention that focuses on what you love most about Magic: creative expression, social play, and friendly competition. EDHREC is proud to support the endeavor, and over the last year or so, Shoebox's founders and organizers have been hard at work ensuring the first-time event becomes the first of many.
We sat down with one of Shoebox's founders, Haiyue Yu, to talk about where the idea for the event formed, what's gone into making it a reality, and what attendees can expect from Shoebox.
<div id="attachment_175897" style="width: 433px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-scaled.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-175897" class=" wp-image-175897" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="423" height="564" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-scaled.jpeg 1920w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8866-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 423px) 100vw, 423px" /></a>Haiyue, one of Shoebox's founders (photos provided)</div>
EDHREC: First off, tell me about yourself - what's your background outside of Magic, and with Magic?
Haiyue: I was actually an IP lawyer in a previous life back in the UK! I moved to Canada in 2018 and became an entrepreneur. In Magic, I built the <a href="https://vmlmtg.com/">VML project</a>, which was a league for people of marginalised genders. We ran for 4 years, 13 seasons of play, and helped thousands of players experience and develop their talents in competitive play. We radically changed what competitive Magic looks like, with players from our program regularly making PT Top 8s.
I care a lot about breaking down barriers and creating joyful communities in Magic. I also do some tournament casting - I cover the <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Arena_Championship">Arena Championships</a> for Wizards and have also worked on <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Magic_Online_Premier_Play_Program#Seasonal_Model">MTGO Champions Showcase</a> and the Set Championships as well as smaller events.
<div id="attachment_175898" style="width: 725px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-175898" class=" wp-image-175898" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216.jpeg" alt="" width="715" height="412" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216.jpeg 1856w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216-300x173.jpeg 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216-1024x590.jpeg 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216-768x443.jpeg 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_8216-1536x886.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 715px) 100vw, 715px" /></a>VML appearing on MTG Arena</div>
Tell me about the Shoebox team - anyone you'd like to call out, what their roles are?
The four main founders are myself, Alex, Greg, and Gwen. Alex is my fiance - we've worked on a few projects together (and we're getting married in May!). Greg is a stalwart of the Cube community, who runs the <a href="https://vertex.mtgcu.be/">Vertex series</a> on the East Coast. Gwen has the tech chops - he's the founder of <a href="https://cubecobra.com/landing">Cubecobra</a>, which is the software most Cube designers use, and <a href="https://hedron.network/">Hedron Network</a>, which is a tournament software for Cube. We actually all met at Cubecon back in 2024.
The wider team are people we know and trust from our time in the community - judges like Rob and Jenn, Mike Linneman who works with the artists, Misha from <a href="https://www.birdsofmtg.com/">Birds of Paradise</a>, Andy (co-host of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@luckypaper">Lucky Paper Radio</a>, the biggest Cube podcast) with the design work, etc.
Of the founders, I would say that Alex is the finance guy, but he's also very passionate about making sure attendees have a great experience. Greg does a lot of the event planning and logistics. Gwen is our tech wizard. And I'm the one doing comms and a lot of general project management. We very conveniently all have complementary skill sets.
From the beginning, how did the idea for Shoebox formulate?
It was actually a bit of synchronicity. Back in 2020 I came up with the idea for a Safe Playspace at MagicCon, which we ran with Birds of Paradise. From that, Misha and I had worked on a pitch to Wizards for some bigger community projects at MagicCon.
I really believed in those ideas and I was throwing around the idea of a community-focused convention with Alex, but it didn't get much further than some napkin maths. And then literally a week later, I met Greg and Gwen through some mutual friends at this Moroccan breakfast joint. We got chatting and it transpired that they had been thinking that the Cube community should have more than one big event every year. We realised quickly that our ideas were very compatible with each other, and it all grew from there.
<div id="attachment_175899" style="width: 653px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-scaled.jpeg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-175899" class=" wp-image-175899" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="643" height="482" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_2469-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px" /></a>VML and Birds of Paradise teaming up to create a gaming space at a MagicCon.</div>
What have been some challenges getting the event from an idea to where it is now?
Well, it turns out that it's pretty hard to make a convention!
I'm being a bit flippant, but I think taking any new project on has the same challenges: you're essentially trying to learn how to do ten different jobs at once. I think those are all kind of just part of the process, though. The absolute toughest challenge has been something we never expected we'd have to deal with: the actions of ICE and the subsequent unrest in Minnesota.
It's been really tough as we've had to make changes to our plans due to staff not feeling safe travelling to the area. However, we strongly believe that a joyful community is necessary, not just a nice thing to have, for people in difficult times, which is why we've decided to keep the event on and support the local economy. We're also donating 10% of our profits this year to Minnesotan organisations that help those affected.
What has surprised you about this undertaking? Anything fall into place easier than expected?
Definitely! I think I've been surprised at just how much passion people already have for this event, and how much people are willing to step in and help to make it a reality.
Of course, when you start a project you always hope that others will share your vision, but it's still very humbling when people are so inspired that they will call in favours and take time out of their own schedule to lend a hand. <a href="https://shoebox.gg/vendors#artists-at-shoebox">Mike with the artists</a> is a great example of this. We have some artists coming like <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CTom+W%C3%A4nerstrand%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Tom Wänerstrand</a> and Chase Stone who very rarely go to events, which I'm super excited about.
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What has been the community reaction to Shoebox so far?
Incredibly, overwhelmingly positive. Whenever I talk to anyone about it, I get the feeling that we've tapped into something on a deeper level. You can almost see the enthusiasm bubbling up as the message resonates.
If you had to distill the ethos of Shoebox, what would that be? Like, what's the overarching vibe?
To me, it's about joyful belonging. We sat down very early and asked ourselves: what is it that keeps people playing this game, not just in terms of quick dopamine hits, but for decades? And we came up with these three ideas: creative expression, social interaction, and friendly competition.
We want Shoebox to feel like all the best parts of Magic. So it could be sick plays, or shiny cards, or beautiful pieces of art, but it's also the silliness, the crazy stories, and the unique experiences that you tell your playgroup about for years after the event.
How has your experience in Magic aided you in planning Shoebox?
When I was doing the VML project we did a lot of community work and convention work, which helped. We're all people who have been to countless events and between us we've seen all the aspects of it, and the driving force behind what we're doing is that we are making the event that we've always wanted to go to. I think the other important part is that we're people who aren't bound by how things are normally done; we're willing to give new concepts a go and think about conventions from the ground up, focusing on player experience.
What's your elevator pitch to a potential attendee?
Come and be part of a Magic event that is about playing in fun, creative ways! You'll meet cool people and try new formats you've never heard of. It doesn't matter if you can't afford the most expensive cards or decks, just bring whatever's in your shoebox at home and get ready for a good time. Also, we have <a href="https://shoebox.gg/information#shoebox-pins">neat pins</a> you can collect 🙂
Of all the events, guests, tournaments, and attractions planned, what are you most looking forward to?
For me it has to be the <a href="https://shoebox.gg/events#carnival">Carnival</a>.
It's something that's completely new we're trying out; a whole area of free minigames, indie formats, and community artists. We have some awesome cosplayers who will be hosting and making it a vibrant and exciting place to be. I'm also extremely excited about Shivam's chaos sealed draft brawl event, because that's a lot of different words all put together and it promises to be a blast.
<a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-175901" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418.png" alt="" width="860" height="374" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418.png 1380w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418-300x130.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418-1024x445.png 1024w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-e1770653859418-768x334.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px" /></a>
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<h2>A Vibrant and Inclusive Grassroots Convention</h2>
A big thank-you to Haiyue for giving us the rundown on Shoebox!
Shoebox will be taking over the <a href="https://www.rivercentre.org/">Saint Paul River Centre</a> in St. Paul, MN on March 13-15. <a href="https://shoebox.gg/badges">Badges for the event are currently on sale</a>, with a variety of tiers and perks to choose from. To keep up-to-date on Shoebox, check out the event's <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/shoebox.gg">Bluesky</a> page or join the event <a href="https://discord.com/invite/sgH3ujewUv">Discord</a>.
Will you be making the trek to St. Paul next month to jump into the Shoebox? Let us know your thoughts below, and if we'll see you there!
<h3>Read More:</h3>
https://edhrec.com/articles/magic-in-miniature-iii-an-interview-with-3-of-its-artists
https://edhrec.com/articles/improving-the-gathering-with-women-in-magic
https://edhrec.com/articles/an-interview-with-donny-caltrider-ahead-of-magic-in-miniature-iii

What Is Shoebox?

On Thursday, May 15th, early bird badge sales go live for <a href="https://mcatlanta.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/badges/buy-badges.html">MagicCon Atlanta</a>! This first batch of badges, which are discounted by approximately 10%, will be public at 8 AM Pacific Time, or 11 AM Eastern. What will this event cost you to attend? Let's take a look!
<h2>MagicCon Atlanta Ticket Pricing Information</h2>
The badges for MagicCon Atlanta are divided into multiple tiers:
<h3>Black Lotus VIP Badge</h3>
First off, we have the Black Lotus VIP tier. This badge is by far the most expensive one on the list. It is also the most all-encompassing. The early bird sale has it listed at $900, but once general sales begin, it will cost $1,000 to get a Black Lotus VIP badge. According to the badge sales page on the site for MagicCon Atlanta, here is what you'll get for this access:
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<li>Black Lotus VIP Badge </li>
<li>Branded Lanyard</li>
<li>4 Traditional foil Avacyn's Pilgrim promo card</li>
<li>2 Edge of Eternities Collector Boosters </li>
<li>3 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Boosters</li>
<li>1 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Spidey's Spectacular Showdown Scene Box</li>
<li>MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </li>
<li>Black Lotus Progressive Sealed Event - Weekend Long</li>
<li>Black Lotus Draft Events - Friday &amp; Sunday</li>
<li>Black Lotus Commander Unknown Planechase Event - Saturday</li>
<li>Access to Thursday First Look Experiences</li>
<li>Access to The Lost Tavern</li>
</ul>
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<li>An Official Pin Exclusive to The Lost Tavern </li>
<li>Reserved Seating at the Mana Stage</li>
<li>Access to Black Lotus VIP Lounge</li>
<li>Access to Exclusive Signing &amp; Play Opportuinities with Magic Personalities</li>
<li>Early Access to the Show Floor</li>
<li>MagicCon: Atlanta Official Pin</li>
<li>MagicCon: Atlanta Staff Trader Pin</li>
<li>Black Lotus VIP Branded Bag</li>
<li>Designated VIP line for Show Store</li>
<li>10% off Official Show Store merchandise</li>
<li>Black Lotus Exclusive Playmat </li>
<li>Black Lotus Exclusive Wearable </li>
<li>Black Lotus Exclusive Drinkware</li>
</ul>
<h3>Legendary VIP Badge</h3>
Next, we have the Legendary VIP Badge. This badge will normally cost $400, but for the early bird sale, the badge is discounted to $360. There are fewer perks to getting a Legendary VIP Badge, but it's still full of a lot of good access and swag:
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<li>Legendary VIP Weekend Badge</li>
<li>Branded Lanyard</li>
<li>2 Traditional foil Avacyn's Pilgrim promo card</li>
<li>2 Edge of Eternities Collector Boosters </li>
<li>3 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Boosters</li>
<li>Access to The Lost Tavern*</li>
<li>An Official Pin Exclusive to The Lost Tavern </li>
</ul>
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<li>Legendary VIP Exclusive Playmat </li>
<li>MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </li>
<li>MagicCon: Atlanta Official Pin</li>
<li>10% off Official Show Store merchandise</li>
<li>Legendary VIP Exclusive Drinkware</li>
<li>Legendary VIP Branded Bag</li>
</ul>
<h3>Premium Badges</h3>
Next, Premium badges are divided into either single-day badges or weekend badges. Single-day badges are normally $75, but for this early bird sale, they're $65. Meanwhile, Weekend badges are normally $170 but are $150 for the sale.
If you are getting a single-day badge, here's what you should expect from it:
<ul>
<li>Fri, Sat, or Sun Badge</li>
<li>1 Non-foil Acvacyn's Pilgrim Promo Card </li>
<li>2 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Booster</li>
</ul>
And, if you're getting a weekend badge, here's what you will get:
<ul>
<li>Weekend Badge</li>
<li>2 Traditional foil Avacyn's Pilgrim Promo Cards</li>
<li>3 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Boosters</li>
<li>MagicCon: Atlanta Event Playmat </li>
<li>MagicCon 2025 Event Exclusive Deck Box + Sleeves </li>
</ul>
<h3>General Badges</h3>
Next, general badges are most people's cheapest option. These normally cost $40 or $110 for a single day or weekend badge, respectively, but are $30 or $100, respectively, for this sale.
Single-day badges will get you a promo copy of <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim" href="#" target="_blank">Avacyn&#039;s Pilgrim</a>, while a weekend badge will get you two copies of that promo.
<h3>Youth Badges</h3>
Finally, we come to youth badges. Prices for this tier seem set, as there isn't a different price than the one they show on the site. Youth badges are either $20 for one day or $50 for the weekend, and only cover attendees under a certain age.
If your kid is going for a youth badge, this is what they should be getting:
<ul>
<li>Youth Fri, Sat, or Sun Badge</li>
<li>1 Non-foil Avacyn's Pilgrim Promo Card </li>
<li>2 Magic: The Gathering Foundations Jumpstart Boosters</li>
</ul>
And, if they're going for the weekend, here's what they'll receive:
<ul>
<li>Youth Weekend Badge</li>
<li>1 Non-foil Avacyn's Pilgrim Promo Card </li>
<li>1 Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man Collector Booster</li>
<li>1 Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box</li>
</ul>
<h2>MagicCon Atlanta - Can You Attend?</h2>
This convention is sure to have a bunch of really cool events and exhibitions. <a href="https://mcatlanta.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/badges/buy-badges.html">You can find the badge sale here.</a> Are you planning to get yourself to Atlanta for the con? Sound off below!
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convention

What Is Shoebox?

MagicCon Atlanta Early Bird Ticket Sale Starts May 15th