Why Have It In Casino's?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Why do promoters hold tournaments in casino's? Is it because they get a kickback from the casino and hotel? I never liked the idea of pool tournaments played in a casino. I've always thought that a big clean poolroom or nice sports bar is fine for them. After all. that's where most people play pool. Johnnyt
 
Space, accommodations, food and a fun place to visit. Logistics. Same reasons many other events are in Las Vegas.
 
If a bar owner holds a tournament he expects each player to spend about $20 on food and drinks. If a casino holds a tournament they expect each player to spend around $1,000 on gambling, hotel. food and drinks. So it only makes sense for the bar owner to add $500 to $1000 where-as the casino feels comfortable adding $5,000 to $20,000 to the tournament. The more money added, the better the tournament, therefore casinos host most big events.
 
Good question, Johnny.
My guess is that in most Casinos the food and drink is free so naturally, being a pool player and cheaper than a three dollar suit, we have our tournaments there. :smile:

P.S. How's the back doing?
 
Our apa and bca regional tournaments both use about 80 diamond barboxes. The tournaments in Vegas use even more. Not sure where else you can put those kinds of numbers while it still being worthwhile.
 
Cost: it's cheaper to hold an event at a casino because the casino has more ancillary revenue than other venues (gambling, show tickets, room and food). Therefore, it can afford to offer the promoter a lower rent, and maybe even rebate some dollars back into the "added" fund.

Size: Pool takes up a LOT of space. Aside from casinos, you'll only find that size space in major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston (New York is horrible; land is so expensive that none of the hotels have giant ballrooms. Your only option is the Javits Convention Center and the prices there are sky-high.) Big city = big prices.
 
Johnnyt


I think that if you were to call around to venues that have enough space to hold a decent sized event and ask how much it would cost to rent the room that you would be shocked by what you find.

You'll most likely not find a place big enough unless it's a large hotel, usually located in the commercial district of bigger cities. These bigger hotel's usually have connected convention space built just for these types of things, but be prepared for a shock when they give you the price.


Royce
 
In addition to limited space and accommodations, no one spends 5, 10 or 20K in a sports bar.
 
RBC said:
Johnnyt


I think that if you were to call around to venues that have enough space to hold a decent sized event and ask how much it would cost to rent the room that you would be shocked by what you find.

You'll most likely not find a place big enough unless it's a large hotel, usually located in the commercial district of bigger cities. These bigger hotel's usually have connected convention space built just for these types of things, but be prepared for a shock when they give you the price.


Royce
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True.
And, typically the hotel " shuts down" the bars and restaurants at a certain point, and possibly even the ballroom. With a big event, matches may run into the wee hours and some folks want to stay up late playing for money.
 
Mr. Bond said:
True.
And, typically the hotel " shuts down" the bars and restaurants at a certain point, and possibly even the ballroom. With a big event, matches may run into the wee hours and some folks want to stay up late playing for money.
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This a great point and is actually an issue even kids brought up.
The BEF Nationals was held in Vegas along side the BCAPL/USAPL and the CSI pro events in 2013.

Kids had fun, they could hang out a bit, play, visit the area, go to the hotel, go back at 8 pm and play a bit again, watch the pro events.

In 2014 the BEF went to the BCA trade show which was in a regular convention center. The tables were only open when the show was going on, at 5 or so, the place shut down. Nothing for the kids to do relating to pool if they wanted to stay and play. We had to head down the road to a pool hall which was very busy of course, and we were lucky it was about a mile up the road so easy to walk there.

My son really did not like the setup for the tournament when it was held with the BCA show but he loved it when it was at the Rio in Vegas, and so did other parents and kids I spoke with.
 
basically what everyone said. if you can make the entire event a destination for more than just pool players, then you're gonna make more $$ in the end. casinos allow that. stuff for mom and the kids to do while the dad watches or plays pool. as well as far more stuff to do on property when play is over for the day.
 
When was the last time you saw a pool room that had the space for both tables and spectators? I've seen only one since I moved from NY and that's now closed. Even with just bar tables most places I've been in the last several years barely have room for the tables, let alone spectator seating. Most "pool rooms" here are just bars with pool tables.
It's been a long time since I saw anything resembling a real pool room.
 
Johnnyt said:
Why do promoters hold tournaments in casino's? Is it because they get a kickback from the casino and hotel? I never liked the idea of pool tournaments played in a casino. I've always thought that a big clean poolroom or nice sports bar is fine for them. After all. that's where most people play pool. Johnnyt
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It is what you said, kickbacks. My sister in law runs conventions and seminars. She gets kickbacks from everybody. She guarantees them so many rooms filled and get kickbacks from rent a cars gotten through her.

She is also on the hook, if there is a whether event or something and the thing is a bust it can cost her thousands out of pocket. Mean time she may make 50 grand in a few days with everything. That is how you live in an ocean front house.

I am sure these leagues would not want anyone to know what they pocket from one of these events. It could be huge.
 
My guess is because promoters think pool players are degenerate gamblers who will spend even more money than usual by going to play a tournament at a casino.
 
Most well run successful pool room/bars can't justify doing a tournament in house. They have a full house already and a tournament will interfere with that business and then the players want the business to add money to the prize fund. The room where I play has a waiting list crowd pretty much every weekend and they are a playing, eating and drinking crowd where pool players won't drink or eat much during a tournament.
 
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