Update on the Des Moines pool scene

Spimp13

O8 Specialist
Silver Member
How many did we get for each of the three tournaments and how did the Des Moines crew do in each one? I made the mistake of saying I was going to do a shot every time Iowa scored this weekend...My wallet and I wouldn't have guessed we would put up 38 on the road at Michigan.
 

mikeyfrost

Socially Aware
Silver Member
One pocket got 22 playes, 9 ball had 34 players, 8 ball had less than 25 players...considering there were less than 5 people from out of town playing in the events Des Moines dominated haha. I posted some results in the tournament thread in the Tournament Announcements section.
 

SKUNKBOY

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thanks Mike...I'll read that report.

Sounds like a kind of disappointing turn out though, but as someone else mentioned, other...bigger...events were going on too.

L8R...Ken
 

mikeyfrost

Socially Aware
Silver Member
Thanks Mike...I'll read that report.

Sounds like a kind of disappointing turn out though, but as someone else mentioned, other...bigger...events were going on too.

L8R...Ken


For not adding any money I would say the turn out was okay. If we added $2500 to a tourney and $500 or a $1000 to a one pocket tourney in one weekend we would get as many players as Olathe does. People like to come to our pool room especially with 4 pro cut Diamond bar tables just put in along with a total of 8 Diamond big tables now.
 

pooljunkie75

Bruce Johnson
Silver Member
For not adding any money I would say the turn out was okay. If we added $2500 to a tourney and $500 or a $1000 to a one pocket tourney in one weekend we would get as many players as Olathe does. People like to come to our pool room especially with 4 pro cut Diamond bar tables just put in along with a total of 8 Diamond big tables now.

I agree. We will never get the turn out if there isn't money added. People aren't going to drive all the way here and stay in a hotel just to break even.
 

Big_H515

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Big H bar table ten ball tomorrow, me and you, this nine ball battle is a certified draw. You said I have a horrible break anyway so this is like me offering you a spot since Ill play that with you...meet there about 6?

I didnt say you had a horrible break, I said neither of us were breaking good at all.

Tonight might not work for me though, gotta say "I do" this afternoon. PM me your number and Ill shoot you a text before 6 and let you know.
 

mikeyfrost

Socially Aware
Silver Member
I agree. We will never get the turn out if there isn't money added. People aren't going to drive all the way here and stay in a hotel just to break even.

I know Bruce, I think now they also know. I really think the fact we have such a strong league presense hurts our chances to have big tourneys. The leagues pay the bills, tournaments usually aren't big money makers but they are strong on advertising how cool the place is. I guess they need to add the dollars up and see what is what.

For instance I know last weekend probably didnt bring in half what an APA tourney or TAP tourney does. So as a player and coveted auctioneer(lol) I'd love a big field top player tourney but as a business man keep the league players coming. Realistically would prob make more money if they had money added APA and TAP tourneys, or just team tourneys in general. Maybe that's the best compromise.

Someone who is smart figure out how can you make money and have good tourneys, starting to think those things don't go together at least from a business point of view. As a fan of the game though...ADD THE CASH!!!
 

Spimp13

O8 Specialist
Silver Member
Someone who is smart figure out how can you make money and have good tourneys, starting to think those things don't go together at least from a business point of view. As a fan of the game though...ADD THE CASH!!!


There are ways, but a lot of it goes back to what the owner wants to do and how much he wants to risk spending and how much return he thinks he will get on the investment. You could always throw in a break and run pot, set up a big money match for after the tournament that might bring in some outside rail betters, drink specials, food specials, exhibition etc...but it all comes down to spending $ for all three days and how much $ will be coming back in from a business viewpoint. Something that may be missed is when you do one tournament that has a lot of success, it might spur more people to come to the next one, and the next one etc. Maybe not, pool players don't spend money as a whole.
 

mikeyfrost

Socially Aware
Silver Member
There are ways, but a lot of it goes back to what the owner wants to do and how much he wants to risk spending and how much return he thinks he will get on the investment. You could always throw in a break and run pot, set up a big money match for after the tournament that might bring in some outside rail betters, drink specials, food specials, exhibition etc...but it all comes down to spending $ for all three days and how much $ will be coming back in from a business viewpoint. Something that may be missed is when you do one tournament that has a lot of success, it might spur more people to come to the next one, and the next one etc. Maybe not, pool players don't spend money as a whole.

Amusement and league players though pile up at Stix and buy shots on every score during Iowa games though and they spend a bunch of cash! Sorry gotta poke fun at you as when I went to Stix for a little while I felt like way more people were drinking there than at Dogs and spending money.

I did like the 38th point of the game though, you didnt look like you really wanted that last shot haha!
 

Spimp13

O8 Specialist
Silver Member
Amusement and league players though pile up at Stix and buy shots on every score during Iowa games though and they spend a bunch of cash! Sorry gotta poke fun at you as when I went to Stix for a little while I felt like way more people were drinking there than at Dogs and spending money.

I did like the 38th point of the game though, you didnt look like you really wanted that last shot haha!

No way Iowa puts up 38 on the road at Michigan I thought...oops. We hung out for the baby shower while watching the game. By the time the tournament started I was pretty toasty and it showed. I focused for one match, played well... and then lost the next two. Fortunately my shot per score did not include rumpy. Also the cops were slightly busy Saturday night being downtown. A guy I work with who is also a bartendar downtown told me today that Saturday night a few guys after the bar closed attempted to have a dance off.....which escalated into a riot lol. There were close to 15 cop cars down there!
 

pooljunkie75

Bruce Johnson
Silver Member
Why doesn't Randy reach out to the Billiard industry or local businesses like other tournaments do? There are a lot of businesses that would put up a little money just to hang a banner in there for the weekend. Look at other tournaments, there are advertisements everywhere.... You don't think they advertise for free do you? BigTruck gets donation of Simonis cloth and Aramith balls that he sells to recoup costs. It's all in how much work they want to put into it. If it wasn't for you Frost, NO ONE would've even known about it. It's only going to be as big as they want it to be.....
 

mikeyfrost

Socially Aware
Silver Member
Why doesn't Randy reach out to the Billiard industry or local businesses like other tournaments do? There are a lot of businesses that would put up a little money just to hang a banner in there for the weekend. Look at other tournaments, there are advertisements everywhere.... You don't think they advertise for free do you? BigTruck gets donation of Simonis cloth and Aramith balls that he sells to recoup costs. It's all in how much work they want to put into it. If it wasn't for you Frost, NO ONE would've even known about it. It's only going to be as big as they want it to be.....

In your opinion do you think a big dogs tourney could make as much money as APA or TAP tourneys do when they have a bunch of teams playing? Think about it.
 

Spimp13

O8 Specialist
Silver Member
Last I had heard Randy was trying to sell the place. IF this is true and that is only IF it is...then he probably couldn't care less how many people come to the tournament. I can't speak for him though.
 

pooljunkie75

Bruce Johnson
Silver Member
In your opinion do you think a big dogs tourney could make as much money as APA or TAP tourneys do when they have a bunch of teams playing? Think about it.

No way. But, the sponsors can offset some of that cost. If that is what they wants to cater to then they shouldn't even have these tournaments. How are all of the other big rooms affording to add thousands of dollars to their tournaments? Maybe he should start there.
 

pooljunkie75

Bruce Johnson
Silver Member
Last I had heard Randy was trying to sell the place. IF this is true and that is only IF it is...then he probably couldn't care less how many people come to the tournament. I can't speak for him though.

I think being able to pack the house with out-of-towners and league players spending money would look good from a business plan stand point.
 
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