Getting players to enter a local tournament

mreightball

mreightball

New member
Silver Member
Hello:
I need a little input from you guys. There are probably 200 plus players in my area that belong to different leagues in my area and whenever you try to have a tournament there is a lack of participation. I was wondering if it is because players feel they can't win and don't want to invest their $10 entrance fee or what?
What is a good incentive to get players to enter who feel this way?
Or is there another way to get more entrants?
Some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ron
 
mreightball said:
Hello:
I need a little input from you guys. There are probably 200 plus players in my area that belong to different leagues in my area and whenever you try to have a tournament there is a lack of participation. I was wondering if it is because players feel they can't win and don't want to invest their $10 entrance fee or what?
What is a good incentive to get players to enter who feel this way?
Or is there another way to get more entrants?
Some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ron
Click to expand...


  • matched prize money
  • pay more places
  • if the players are in league you might try to use a handicap system
  • go around to local bars and put up advertisements
 
It might not be what you think.

How many tables are you going to use? Bar Box or 9 footers?
What, if any, is added to the prize fund? is it based on the number of players?
Is it an OPEN tournament? will the top players in the area always play?
Is it Handicapped and who determines the handicap and race format?


All these make a difference in a player deciding to play in your tournament or NOT>
 
how many players are you getting?

mreightball said:
Hello:
I need a little input from you guys. There are probably 200 plus players in my area that belong to different leagues in my area and whenever you try to have a tournament there is a lack of participation. I was wondering if it is because players feel they can't win and don't want to invest their $10 entrance fee or what?
What is a good incentive to get players to enter who feel this way?
Or is there another way to get more entrants?
Some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ron
Click to expand...

Ron,

This has been discussed before but you are never going to have much correlation between league players and tournament players. Most league players are social players at heart and tournament players are competitors. From my observations the vast majority of people do not enjoy competing. They don't want the stress or the pressure. Nothing you can do is going to change these people's basic make up.

You can do things to make your events more attractive to your competitors. The people to ask are the ones you have already competing. What do they like about your tournaments? What do they dislike? Sometimes getting rid of the dislikes is more important than the things they are wishing for. Some things aren't possible either. One crowd wants one thing, one crowd wants another, various people in a group want different things. You can't please them all.

No problem with you asking here on the main forum but I suggest you ask in the owner's forum too and as I said, ask your current competitors what can make the events better. Little things like new chalk and decent cue balls can go a long ways sometimes as can clean balls. How about your room? What can you do to make people's experience nicer while spending little or no money?

Hu
 
TheNewSharkster said:
  • matched prize money
  • pay more places
  • if the players are in league you might try to use a handicap system
  • go around to local bars and put up advertisements
Click to expand...

This is a tough question.

I have been trying to get a Tuesday 9Ball event going in Waco for 3 months and all we get is 8-14 players.

* Fast Eddies doubles the pot
* I have been paying 3-4 places. 3 with 8 players, and 4 with 12.
* We have been handicapping with game spots.
* passed out business card type flyers.
* Break and Run contest with $1 tickets(buy as many chances as you want)
* New cloth on all tables
* Happy hour drink prices ALL night

Still 8-14 players. I'm stumped.

Ray
 
Do a "chip" tournament, race to one, $8 or $10 entry. Each entrant gets 6 poker chips, play as assigned on tables a race to one. Lose, turn in a chip and move to the next table in order. Win, stay on the table until you lose. Lose all 6 chips, you're out. Pay 5 or 6 places and develop a "break pot" that rolls over. Anyone can win a race to one and it gives lesser players a chance to play, and maybe beat, better players and learn something. Cheap, fun entertainment!
:p
 
TheNewSharkster said:
  • matched prize money
  • pay more places
  • if the players are in league you might try to use a handicap system
  • go around to local bars and put up advertisements
Click to expand...

This is a tough question.

I have been trying to get a Tuesday 9Ball event going in Waco for 3 months and all we get is 8-14 players.

* Fast Eddies doubles the pot
* I have been paying 3-4 places. 3 with 8 players, and 4 with 12.
* We have been handicapping with game spots.
* passed out business card type flyers.
* Break and Run contest with $1 tickets(buy as many chances as you want)
* New cloth on all tables
* Happy hour drink prices ALL night

Still 8-14 players. I'm stumped.

Ray
 
Tom In Cincy said:
It might not be what you think.

How many tables are you going to use? Bar Box or 9 footers?
What, if any, is added to the prize fund? is it based on the number of players?
Is it an OPEN tournament? will the top players in the area always play?
Is it Handicapped and who determines the handicap and race format?


All these make a difference in a player deciding to play in your tournament or NOT>
Click to expand...

Well it normally is a local tournament on Bar Boxes with 4 table availability.
It is generally no handicap 8 ball ball in hand rules.
No added prize money payouts based on the number of players.
Top players in the area generally will enter.

So what are some ideas to get more players to enter?
 
Bigtruck said:
This is a tough question.

I have been trying to get a Tuesday 9Ball event going in Waco for 3 months and all we get is 8-14 players.

* Fast Eddies doubles the pot
* I have been paying 3-4 places. 3 with 8 players, and 4 with 12.
* We have been handicapping with game spots.
* passed out business card type flyers.
* Break and Run contest with $1 tickets(buy as many chances as you want)
* New cloth on all tables
* Happy hour drink prices ALL night

Still 8-14 players. I'm stumped.

Ray
Click to expand...
Maybe they heard you tell bad jokes :D:D:D:D:D

BVal
 
There are tournaments in other areas maybe 25 miles from here and they generally get good turn outs with shooters whom I don't know why they even enter because they really have no chance of winning.
This area they play no ball in hand and no fouls. The only foul is if you move the ball you lose your turn and incoming player has cue ball where it sits.
Ron
 
I agree with this. I brought "chip pool" tournaments to MT, and for a $10 entry we'd get 40-60 players. I paid 50% of the field.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

rayjay said:
Do a "chip" tournament, race to one, $8 or $10 entry. Each entrant gets 6 poker chips, play as assigned on tables a race to one. Lose, turn in a chip and move to the next table in order. Win, stay on the table until you lose. Lose all 6 chips, you're out. Pay 5 or 6 places and develop a "break pot" that rolls over. Anyone can win a race to one and it gives lesser players a chance to play, and maybe beat, better players and learn something. Cheap, fun entertainment!
:p
Click to expand...
 
Top two players sit out for a couple of weeks. This will tell the other players they have a chance to win.

8 ball is generally speaking a slow game compared to 9 ball on a bar box.

You might want to consider 9 ball race to 2 or 3. This will also attract more players thinking that a short race is almost a coin flip no matter who your opponent is.
(this also is cheaper for the players because you can sometimes get 2 games out of one 15 ball rack.)

If the owner will go for it, maybe open the tables for practice a half hour before the tournament starts.


Let your players know that if they bring a NEW players they get a discount on the entry fee. Say if they bring 1 player, they only pay $8, 2 players $6, 3 players $5.
Let the special run for 2 or 4 weeks.








mreightball said:
Well it normally is a local tournament on Bar Boxes with 4 table availability.
It is generally no handicap 8 ball ball in hand rules.
No added prize money payouts based on the number of players.
Top players in the area generally will enter.

So what are some ideas to get more players to enter?
Click to expand...
 
Bigtruck said:
This is a tough question.

I have been trying to get a Tuesday 9Ball event going in Waco for 3 months and all we get is 8-14 players.

* Fast Eddies doubles the pot
* I have been paying 3-4 places. 3 with 8 players, and 4 with 12.
* We have been handicapping with game spots.
* passed out business card type flyers.
* Break and Run contest with $1 tickets(buy as many chances as you want)
* New cloth on all tables
* Happy hour drink prices ALL night

Still 8-14 players. I'm stumped.

Ray
Click to expand...
I wish the Fast Eddies in Houston would double the pot, they actually take out like $10-15 to tip the wait staff. Also, the happy hour drink prices are a really good idea imo.
 
Well, you have tons of options. Let's run through some various ways to draw in "League" players.

I assume the 4 tables available are barboxes right? About $.75 per table?

Mix and Match a few of these:
- Have a Lower Entry fee, say $5/person
- Have the house match the pot. 20 players = $100 + $100 added.
- Possibly add a "Side Pot" for $5 or $10 that people may wish to get in, last man standing for each level. (Let me know if you want further explaination on this one)
- Handicap if possible, or Filter out the Top few players by creating Tiers (I know it sucks for them, but is a big draw for others)
- Make it a requirement that they completed so many weeks of League Play.
- Make the winner sit out a week or two OR Bump the Winner up a level and increase the games they race to.
- Shorter races are good for lessor players, if you have majority of "C" players, you might want quick race to 2 dbl elim or something.
- Create a large end-of-the-season tournament with large added money ($500+) and make it a requirement that players play in atleast 3 weekly tournaments to qualify or something. (Fool with the number)

Other things to consider by the room. Do a calculation of how much money they pull in on the tables. If the bar is cool adding back some or all of the money made on the tables, they will profit from Drinks, Food, etc.

Easy formula:
Calculate Number of Matches:
(Number of Players * 2) - 1 = Total matches Played (ie. 16 players: 16*2 = 32 - 1 = 31 matches)
Calculate Avg Game Numbers per Match:
Estimated 70% of Max games possible. (ie. If Race is even to 5, that is 9 games max. * 70% = 7 games Average)
Multiply (Matches)(Games)(Table Cost)
31 * 7 * .75 = $162.75
 
I dont know if this has been mentioned but networking will go a long ways. Talk to as many people as you can and get them excited about it. Hopefully they will tell friends and draw in additional people. Maybe even start a facebook or myspace and let all your *friends* know on your home page.
 
stuckart said:
Well, you have tons of options. Let's run through some various ways to draw in "League" players.

I assume the 4 tables available are barboxes right? About $.75 per table?

Mix and Match a few of these:
- Have a Lower Entry fee, say $5/person
- Have the house match the pot. 20 players = $100 + $100 added.
- Possibly add a "Side Pot" for $5 or $10 that people may wish to get in, last man standing for each level. (Let me know if you want further explaination on this one)
- Handicap if possible, or Filter out the Top few players by creating Tiers (I know it sucks for them, but is a big draw for others)
- Make it a requirement that they completed so many weeks of League Play.
- Make the winner sit out a week or two OR Bump the Winner up a level and increase the games they race to.
- Shorter races are good for lessor players, if you have majority of "C" players, you might want quick race to 2 dbl elim or something.
- Create a large end-of-the-season tournament with large added money ($500+) and make it a requirement that players play in atleast 3 weekly tournaments to qualify or something. (Fool with the number)

Other things to consider by the room. Do a calculation of how much money they pull in on the tables. If the bar is cool adding back some or all of the money made on the tables, they will profit from Drinks, Food, etc.

Easy formula:
Calculate Number of Matches:
(Number of Players * 2) - 1 = Total matches Played (ie. 16 players: 16*2 = 32 - 1 = 31 matches)
Calculate Avg Game Numbers per Match:
Estimated 70% of Max games possible. (ie. If Race is even to 5, that is 9 games max. * 70% = 7 games Average)
Multiply (Matches)(Games)(Table Cost)
31 * 7 * .75 = $162.75
Click to expand...

Lots of good ideas here could you elaborate a little more on the side pot aspect.
Ron
 
mreightball said:
There are tournaments in other areas maybe 25 miles from here and they generally get good turn outs with shooters whom I don't know why they even enter because they really have no chance of winning.
This area they play no ball in hand and no fouls. The only foul is if you move the ball you lose your turn and incoming player has cue ball where it sits.
Ron
Click to expand...

Sounds like you know some of the folks who play in those tournaments.

Try *asking them*! Ask them why they play in those tournaments, but aren't coming out to the one you're trying to get going.
 
ScottW said:
Sounds like you know some of the folks who play in those tournaments.

Try *asking them*! Ask them why they play in those tournaments, but aren't coming out to the one you're trying to get going.
Click to expand...

I am basically talking about 2 different area's and 2 different ways of playing bar box 8 ball. Ball in hand and no ball in hand. The one's that play no ball in hand don't understand or like ball in hand rules.
Some of the ideas mentioned here could help draw more players already,
If there are any more ideas for drawing weaker shooters who think they can't win but will still give them a chance will greatly help. I know when we all put our idea's together we can make something work.
Ron
 
rayjay said:
Do a "chip" tournament, race to one, $8 or $10 entry. Each entrant gets 6 poker chips, play as assigned on tables a race to one. Lose, turn in a chip and move to the next table in order. Win, stay on the table until you lose. Lose all 6 chips, you're out. Pay 5 or 6 places and develop a "break pot" that rolls over. Anyone can win a race to one and it gives lesser players a chance to play, and maybe beat, better players and learn something. Cheap, fun entertainment!
:p
Click to expand...

So how does this work? If you had 20 players you start 2 players on each of the 4 tables, then if you loose you turn in one of your chips and move to the next table etc. Wouldn't this mean that a player that keeps on winning will wind up playing more players then someone else and play many more games to become the winner?
 
play

mreightball said:
Hello:
I need a little input from you guys. There are probably 200 plus players in my area that belong to different leagues in my area and whenever you try to have a tournament there is a lack of participation. I was wondering if it is because players feel they can't win and don't want to invest their $10 entrance fee or what?
What is a good incentive to get players to enter who feel this way?
Or is there another way to get more entrants?
Some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ron
Click to expand...

I dont know how it would work for you, but i have been running a handacap for a few years and it does real well. just have someone with the knoledge of your players rating and go at it i run 6ball on wed nite avg 16-25 players 9ball sunday nite and avg 30-32 players. have had as many as61 at my christmas tourny50-40 through the winter months. just a thought good luck STICK
 
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