CardsHQ Does SWU, Too
“My lasting memory from this weekend will be meeting everyone. So many people I’d heard of in the community came down and hung out with us, and getting the chance to meet them was amazing! -Nick Fraser
CardsHQ in Atlanta, GA isn’t your usual LGS. When was the last time you saw a card shop that has stadium seating exclusively designed for streaming opening card boxes? While CardsHQ does have a main focus on sports cards, it also has plenty to offer for TCGs, including SWU. It was also the host for the first ever Bothan Invitational. We spoke with Nick Fraser, who helped coordinate the event.
You have a pretty sick Anakin podracer jacket. What’s the story behind that?
Yeah, my jacket gets a lot of compliments, which I’m very happy about! I bought it for myself as a birthday present last year, and since then, it’s something I wear at work to distinguish myself to the SWU players. I also wear it to most big events, one of the best fashion choices I’ve ever made! The story of Anakin Skywalker is fantastic mythology, and I love having that jacket as a piece of that story.
CardsHQ is a unique facility that it has the Breaker Arena for doing box breaks and the breaker studios. How often are those used for SWU content?
The Breaker Arena gets used by pretty much everyone for everything, including SWU boxes. One of our regulars opened up a Shadows box on stream and pulled a Hunter showcase! It’s magical in that way.
What was one of the biggest logistical challenges you had for the BIATL event?
The big thing for us was converting a space dedicated to browsing and hanging out into one where we can host up to 128 players. We raided the local Home Depot for tables and chairs three times total! We’re happy with how things turned out, but we’re going back to the drawing board to see how we can fit more people for future large events. It’s remarkable what goes into planning these things!
What did you enjoy most about hosting the BIATL event?
My lasting memory from this weekend will be meeting everyone. So many people I’d heard of in the community came down and hung out with us, and getting the chance to meet them was amazing! I had a big moment of relief when everything concluded, and seeing the joy on everyone’s faces is a feeling that can’t be replicated.
Now that the BIATL is over, can we look forward to any future large SWU events from CardsHQ?
As always, Frank Myers and the Bothan Network are an ambitious group, but we have a thing or two up our sleeves. The response BIATL received was monumental, and our intention is to make it happen again. Keep an eye & ear out for more from this collaboration soon!
CardsHQ hosts locals for SWU every Wednesday at 6 PM and Sunday at 12 PM!