League Challenges and League Cups tend to attract more competitors than the average Play! Pokémon Store can accommodate. By following the instructions below, Play! Pokémon Stores may request an alternate venue where they may run League Challenges and League Cups.
The alternate venue request must meet our requirements and adhere to the restrictions below.
Alternate Venue Requirements
The venue must meet all the following requirements.
- The venue owner must agree with the applicant hosting their League Challenges or League Cups at the venue.
- The venue must be open to the public.
- The venue must be clean and well-lit.
- The venue must have seating for at least 10 competitors.
- Events held at the alternate venue may not have more than 250 participants.
- The venue must communicate and apply all relevant laws to protect minors.
- The venue must comply with Pokémon’s Terms of Use.
Ensure that the alternate venue is an appropriate location to run League Challenges and League Cups by keeping the following restrictions in mind.
- There may be no demonstration of racism, political extremism, violence, or hate speech at the venue.
- There may be no use of drugs within the venue, nor the consumption of alcohol in the play area.
- There may be no evidence of illegal activities in the venue.
- There may be no firearms, tobacco, or nicotine products sold at the venue.
There are also important restrictions regarding the location of the alternate venue, and these may vary depending on where your Play! Pokémon Store is located.
- The venue cannot already have a League, nor can the venue be another retail store.
- The venue cannot be part of a fair, convention, or similar event. The venue can be adjacent/in proximity to a fair, convention, or similar event if access to the venue is open to all, does not require an entry fee, and is free from advertising for the fair, convention, or similar event.
- The venue must be within the same country as your Play! Pokémon Store.
- For North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and Australia, the venue must be within the same state, province, territory, or department.
- For Europe and the Middle East, the venue must be within a 10 km (approximately 6-mile) radius of the Play! Pokémon Store address.
- For North America, Latin America, and Oceania, the venue must be within a 10-mile (approximately 16 km) radius of the Play! Pokémon Store address.
How to Apply for an Alternate Venue
Please submit your application for an alternate venue as soon as you have all the necessary information, but no later than one month prior to requiring the alternate venue. Application review times may vary, and we cannot guarantee a specific review turnaround time. If you have not received an update regarding your application 30 days after submitting it, please contact customer support.
- Log in to the Retailer Portal.
- Locate the alternate venues request form under the “League Management” tab.
- Select “Alternate Venues,” complete the form with the necessary information, and submit it.
The Play! Pokémon team will review your request and get back to you with a decision. If your alternate venue request is approved, you will be authorized to host and run future League Challenges and League Cups at that location. If your request is declined, you will be provided with a reason, and you may apply again in the future.
Play! Pokémon guidelines and procedures are intended to foster a fun and safe environment at all Play! Pokémon tournaments, such as League Challenges and League Cups. To ensure the safety of all competitors and fans, especially in the case of tournaments held at alternate venues, all information provided as part of the alternate venue request process must be true and accurate. Tournaments may be held only at approved locations that have been accepted by the Play! Pokémon program.
Any attempts to circumvent our policies or to hold events at unapproved venues can result in disciplinary action based on the incidents and the severity of those incidents, up to and including removal from the Play! Pokémon program.
Sanctioning Events at Alternate Venues
Use Play! Tools to sanction League Challenges and League Cups that are run at an alternate venue. As you create your tournament in Play! Tools, you must input the address of the alternate venue in the “Event Location” section. Be sure to enter the alternate location address and not your League’s address. More details on sanctioning and running League Challenges and League Cups can be found in the League Cups and Challenges FAQ.
Events organized at alternate venues must adhere to the Play! Pokémon Rules and Resources, including, without limitation, the Play! Pokémon Standards of Conduct, Play! Pokémon Inclusion Policy, and the Play! Pokémon Accessibility Policy.
Disclaimer
Please note that this policy is subject to change or modification at Pokémon’s sole discretion and that Pokémon retains the right to grant exceptions and/or variances in specific instances. This right applies regardless of any previous statements or commitments, and no reliance should be placed on such information being final or binding.