More people
COULD make time.
Let's say currently an event runs Friday through Monday. For budgeting purposes, let's say I am good enough to "cash" 50% of the time, I am not, but let's say that. I scrimp and save and budget to play in four events around my State, at a cost of roughly $2500.
PER EVENT:
3 x Per Diem (food and lodging) - $100 a day easily.
1 x $150 Entry fee.
1 x $100 travel expenses, if you're driving.
That's a $600+ weekend.
If you make it Friday night players meeting and draw, start play at say 11am Saturday,
and play down to those who make the money Saturday.
Now, I can budget for 1.5 hotel nights, and I just saved and entry fee right there, plus food for the extra day.
$600+ just became $400. Four events just became six.
If you make it so that locals, and those within driving distance can show up for a 10am player's meeting and draw on Saturday, and play down to the cash rounds Saturday, things get pretty reasonable. Now I only need 1-2 days of food, and one night, two at the most in the hotel. Hell, I don't even need a hotel room if I am within a couple hours of the event and get knocked out the first day.
That same pro-level, big time 10-ball event has skinnied down from $600+ to $300 or less, and I can play EIGHT or more!! Now THAT I could get excited about. Hell, I might play one or two of those on a whim. But at $600 per, not so much.
FWIW, YOU LEFT OUT THE MONEY THAT YOU COULD HAVE MADE WORKING ON FRIDAY AT YOUR REGULAR JOB.
It's really a matter of what you want to do with the tour. If you want it to be elitist, "real" Pro only, fine, hold it in the middle of the week, make it invitation only, and charge the players $1000 per entry, and have them play round robin for ten days.
Obviously, before the flamin' trolls come out, I am exaggerating to make a point, which is: If you WANT a full field, and want to see solid local players jumping into the frey, you gotta make it possible. Right now it isn't. :frown: