The U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
Oct. 18-24 in Chesapeake, Virginia. This is the BIG one that you don't want to miss. The premier pool event in the United States every year. Only four weeks away today! Plenty of hotel/motel space all around the Chesapeake Conference Center.

All the top players turn out for this one every year. This year's purse should be around $250,000 with $40-50,000 going to the winner. If you haven't attended this tournament, do yourself a favor and come. Nothing quite like it in the USA. You can hang out with the world's greatest players, see all kinds of cool stuff on sale and even sweat some high dollar action at Q-Masters Billiards, one of the biggest poolrooms in America. Saturday evening (the 17th) is the player's meeting and player auction. Buy a player and get involved!

Chesapeake is right outside Norfolk if you haven't been there before. Fly (or drive) into Norfolk and take a cab over to the Conference Center. At least a dozen motels within walking distance. Reasonable rates too. Find out more at usopen9ballchampionships.com

See you there!
 
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In addition, Barry informed me that there will be a meet and greet dinner with all the attending US Open champions on Fri, 10/23 at 5pm. They will all take a few minutes to speak, mingle and answer questions. This will be a steak dinner and will run about $12 a head.

Sounds like the right move for Friday's dinner.


Eric
 
Johnny Archer and Allison Fisher will also have a special induction ceremony into the Hall Of Fame held there. I believe you can buy tickets to attend that dinner/ceremony as well.
 
Seating questions

jay helfert said:
Oct. 18-24 in Chesapeake, Virginia. This is the BIG one that you don't want to miss. The premier pool event in the United States every year. Only four weeks away today! Plenty of hotel/motel space all around the Chesapeake Conference Center.

All the top players turn out for this one every year. This year's purse should be around $250,000 with $40-50,000 going to the winner. If you haven't attended this tournament, do yourself a favor and come. Nothing quite like it in the USA. You can hang out with the world's greatest players, see all kinds of cool stuff on sale and even sweat some high dollar action at Q-Masters Billiards, one of the biggest poolrooms in America. Saturday evening (the 17th) is the player's meeting and player auction. Buy a player and get involved!

Chesapeake is right outside Norfolk if you haven't been there before. Fly (or drive) into Norfolk and take a cab over to the Conference Center. At least a dozen motels within walking distance. Reasonable rates too. Find out more at usopen9ballchampionships.com

See you there!
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I would like to attend this event, but I have been trying to get a straight answer on the seating situation for two months now, and no one will give me the info. The Website lists reserved seating, and by now it is mostly red (as in already sold). When I was interested in buying a ticket, I couldn't understand why someone would by a reserved seat in an arena when they would certainly want to move about and see different matches throughout the area. Does buying a reserved seat anchor you to that seat for the tournament? Why not allow patrons buying reserved tickets to move about to any reserved seating area open and have only the first row or so as actual 'set-in-concrete' reserved seats? I would still like to go, but I am so confused on this seating arrangement that I will likely just show up and sit in general admission areas. Like I said, I would have bought tickets months ago, but questions were not answered. There are still reserved seats available in the stadium area, but most are behind the 'camera,' and I have no idea what that view is like from there. Why would anyone want to sit behind a camera? Can you advise on that? This is a great tournament for the U.S. , and I am excited about it. But I do wish they would do a better job of explaining the seating options for those people that have never visited. $200 is a lot of money to pay for tickets that may or may not offer a good view and may or may not allow you to move about to see your favorite matches. Thanks.
 
Krypto said:
I would like to attend this event, but I have been trying to get a straight answer on the seating situation for two months now, and no one will give me the info. The Website lists reserved seating, and by now it is mostly red (as in already sold). When I was interested in buying a ticket, I couldn't understand why someone would by a reserved seat in an arena when they would certainly want to move about and see different matches throughout the area. Does buying a reserved seat anchor you to that seat for the tournament? Why not allow patrons buying reserved tickets to move about to any reserved seating area open and have only the first row or so as actual 'set-in-concrete' reserved seats? I would still like to go, but I am so confused on this seating arrangement that I will likely just show up and sit in general admission areas. Like I said, I would have bought tickets months ago, but questions were not answered. There are still reserved seats available in the stadium area, but most are behind the 'camera,' and I have no idea what that view is like from there. Why would anyone want to sit behind a camera? Can you advise on that? This is a great tournament for the U.S. , and I am excited about it. But I do wish they would do a better job of explaining the seating options for those people that have never visited. $200 is a lot of money to pay for tickets that may or may not offer a good view and may or may not allow you to move about to see your favorite matches. Thanks.
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Seating behind the camera is actually decent. The camera is a boom, so if you are seated high enough, you can still get a very good view.

The reserved seating/VIP seats only gives you the right to that seat, at the "TV table". You can still move around to other tables since the TV table is the only one with reserved seats, all others are general seating. The nice part is that you have a saved seat for the best match ups and the finals.


Hope this helps. It's a great event, one of the "must do" Pool events, imo.


Eric
 
Recommendation

Eric. said:
Seating behind the camera is actually decent. The camera is a boom, so if you are seated high enough, you can still get a very good view.

The reserved seating/VIP seats only gives you the right to that seat, at the "TV table". You can still move around to other tables since the TV table is the only one with reserved seats, all others are general seating. The nice part is that you have a saved seat for the best match ups and the finals.


Hope this helps. It's a great event, one of the "must do" Pool events, imo.


Eric
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Thanks Eric. If possible, would you take a look at the chart on their website and recommend a few seats to me that would be decent. Thank you very much.

RC
 
Krypto said:
Thanks Eric. If possible, would you take a look at the chart on their website and recommend a few seats to me that would be decent. Thank you very much.

RC
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Keep in mind that this year, the front row of the other tables are VIP seats too, otherwsie, you can sit anywhere.

If you want an unobstructed view of the TV table, 19 and 20 of the Josey section offers that. It's the top/last row, but you are only about 30 ft from the TV table itself.

If you want close seats, but occasional people walking in front of you(it's not that bad), try 69 and 70 of the Capone section. These seat have the added benefit of having a front row view of a second table. This would be my personal choice, if I didn't have seats already.

Btw, you owe me a beer :smile:


Eric >Josey section 126 & 127
 
Eric. said:
Keep in mind that this year, the front row of the other tables are VIP seats too, otherwsie, you can sit anywhere.

If you want an unobstructed view of the TV table, 19 and 20 of the Josey section offers that. It's the top/last row, but you are only about 30 ft from the TV table itself.

If you want close seats, but occasional people walking in front of you(it's not that bad), try 69 and 70 of the Capone section. These seat have the added benefit of having a front row view of a second table. This would be my personal choice, if I didn't have seats already.

Btw, you owe me a beer :smile:


Eric >Josey section 126 & 127
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Thank you for the great info. Will send a soda pop for sure...
 
Last year, 4 of us just jumped into a car with no reservations for anything. We easily got a hotel within walking distance for dirt cheap. Then we paid (I think) just $10 each day for admission. We were never left wanting for a better seat.


KK9 <-- going again!
 
Eric. said:
Keep in mind that this year, the front row of the other tables are VIP seats too, otherwsie, you can sit anywhere.

If you want an unobstructed view of the TV table, 19 and 20 of the Josey section offers that. It's the top/last row, but you are only about 30 ft from the TV table itself.

If you want close seats, but occasional people walking in front of you(it's not that bad), try 69 and 70 of the Capone section. These seat have the added benefit of having a front row view of a second table. This would be my personal choice, if I didn't have seats already.

Btw, you owe me a beer :smile:


Eric >Josey section 126 & 127
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Very nice of you to help other posters like that!!! Rep sent

Btw: love your avatar lol
 
Krypto said:
I would like to attend this event, but I have been trying to get a straight answer on the seating situation for two months now, and no one will give me the info. The Website lists reserved seating, and by now it is mostly red (as in already sold). When I was interested in buying a ticket, I couldn't understand why someone would by a reserved seat in an arena when they would certainly want to move about and see different matches throughout the area. Does buying a reserved seat anchor you to that seat for the tournament? Why not allow patrons buying reserved tickets to move about to any reserved seating area open and have only the first row or so as actual 'set-in-concrete' reserved seats? I would still like to go, but I am so confused on this seating arrangement that I will likely just show up and sit in general admission areas. Like I said, I would have bought tickets months ago, but questions were not answered. There are still reserved seats available in the stadium area, but most are behind the 'camera,' and I have no idea what that view is like from there. Why would anyone want to sit behind a camera? Can you advise on that? This is a great tournament for the U.S. , and I am excited about it. But I do wish they would do a better job of explaining the seating options for those people that have never visited. $200 is a lot of money to pay for tickets that may or may not offer a good view and may or may not allow you to move about to see your favorite matches. Thanks.
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Short answer to a long question. I recommend buying the general admission pass. You can move around and sit pretty much where you like. The seats are higher up, but guess what. That gives you a better view of more tables! The seating is very good at the Open. You won't have any trouble getting a good seat to see your favorite players. A seat cushion is a plus.

Only two players are in the TV arena. Meanwhile there may be ten other excellent matches spread throughout the tournament area. Sometimes two or three right next to each other. There's actually too much good pool to even hope to see it all. When having a reserved seat is important is when it gets down to the final matches, mostly all played in the TV arena.
 
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I wish I could do the Open and the DCC but can only afford one of them. I'm going to do the DCC for the first time. But I still wish............
 
Are you a bouncer or a planter?

jay helfert said:
Short answer to a long question. I recommend buying the general admission pass. You can move around and sit pretty much where you like. The seats are higher up, but guess what. That gives you a better view of more tables! The seating is very good at the Open. You won't have any trouble getting a good seat to see your favorite players. A seat cushion is a plus.

Only two players are in the TV arena. Meanwhile there may be ten other excellent matches spread throughout the tournament area. Sometimes two or three right next to each other. There's actually too much good pool to even hope to see it all. When having a reserved seat is important is when it gets down to the final matches, mostly all played in the TV arena.
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Nail? Meet hammer head. There's 16 tables total IIRC, all in one big room. The TV table is in the middle and it semi-separates the room into 2 viewing sections. Up until the last day and a half or so, great matches are everywhere in the room and if you're like most, you'll want to be mobile. I bounce around a lot, and only sink my teeth into a full match on occassion.

So maybe you want reserved seating for only the last day or 2 - it depends on your individual preferences.
 
jay helfert said:
Short answer to a long question. I recommend buying the general admission pass. You can move around and sit pretty much where you like. The seats are higher up, but guess what. That gives you a better view of more tables! The seating is very good at the Open. You won't have any trouble getting a good seat to see your favorite players. A seat cushion is a plus.

Only two players are in the TV arena. Meanwhile there may be ten other excellent matches spread throughout the tournament area. Sometimes two or three right next to each other. There's actually too much good pool to even hope to see it all. When having a reserved seat is important is when it gets down to the final matches, mostly all played in the TV arena.
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don't forget, the "best match" for that round is usually put on the TV table. Also, with the reserved VIP pass, you can still sit anywhere in general seating, but you can come back to your reserved seat for the best matches on the TV table. Cost wise, it isn't that big of a diff; the session pass is $10 per. There are two sessions per day. The weekend VIP pass is $120 for Thurs to Sat. This amounts to $40 per day (vs $20) and you have the benefit of a guaranteed seat when you want it.

For me, it's a no brainer. :wink:


Eric
 
I'll be there if the Lords willing and the creek don't rise but then again I was there during the fall of the towers in 2001 and the hurricane the next year or so after 9-11. Hope to meet some AZ'ers this year me and a friend will be there thurs thru saturday.--Leonard
 
Come one, come all! See the man shoot the balls in the hole! Right handed, left handed, behind his back and between his legs! You've never seen anything like it before! The most amazing exhibition of pool shooting you've ever seen in your life! Only one nickel to get in! That's right I said five cents, five little pennies! Step right up and get in line to see the greatest pool players in the world! Right here under the big top!

I used to work in the carny too, for one Summer. I worked all the joints, and I was only 14. Made over $50 every day, rain or shine. Big money back then!
 
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I got my hotel room booked at the Redroof inn with a great AZ discount code, see you there Jay.--Leonard
 
poolcuemaster said:
I got my hotel room booked at the Redroof inn with a great AZ discount code, see you there Jay.--Leonard
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I would like to make a commercial, something like: I am not playing in the U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship but I will be staying at the Red Roof Inn and will be using the great AZ discount code.

Don't think I will be making the trip this year but stranger things have happened.

It is one fantastic tournament. If Barry brings out the local Sheriff's "Bag Pipe band", you are in for a special treat.

JoeyA
 
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