Why Did the Beer, wine, & Booze Companies Quit Sponsoring Pool?

[Johnnyt]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

 

[iba7467]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

It's just like any business venture, return on investment (ROI). If the company doesn't feel that the profits will increase by a reasonable margin, it is not beneficial to outlay the capital. I do not know what the profit margins for beer and liqour manufacturers are, so this is only theoretical. Assuming they are as high as 30% net profit (hghly unlikely), the company would essentially have to sell more than four additional beers for every dollar spent. I believe due to the poor following of pool on a national level (i.e. television and print) this is a losing proposition for the manufacturers.

This then raises the question, "Does spending $120,000 on a pro tour gain half a million beer sales?" My thoughts are probably not. I think the original Trudeau model was a good fit as it partnered online gambling. This is something that would increase from pool tournament exposure and has a very high profit margin. For whatever reason the sponsorship by these sites was not allowed despite the fact that they now advertise on TV regularly.

If we want pool to have major sponsorship, someone should approach MTV with a reality series. There was a woman at Derby who was filming for a film festival type movie. I thought this was a great idea for exposure. I think a group of guys/girls followed by a camera crew into bars and pool rooms across the country with a competition to see who could win/hustle the most money would be a great show and could bring in some serious add revenue, culminating in a large national tournament at the end of the show season.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

Wouldn't be Don Mackey now would it (or whatever his name was)?

 

[macguy]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

I remember when the Miller Lite did some sponsoring in the early 80's there was something about it being illegal in like 19 states. I don't remember the details.

 

[Johnnyt]

It's just like any business venture, return on investment (ROI). If the company doesn't feel that the profits will increase by a reasonable margin, it is not beneficial to outlay the capital. I do not know what the profit margins for beer and liqour manufacturers are, so this is only theoretical. Assuming they are as high as 30% net profit (hghly unlikely), the company would essentially have to sell more than four additional beers for every dollar spent. I believe due to the poor following of pool on a national level (i.e. television and print) this is a losing proposition for the manufacturers.

If your numbers are even close I see your point I guess it always goes back to no National Pool Organzation here in the US and no National Pro Tour on TV. Really a shame because pool players and their fans do spend money to drink. Johnnyt

 

[sjm]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

I believe that beer companies, most notably Anheuser Busch, still put a lot of money into our sport, but they do so at the amateur and league level, not at the pro level.

 

[Johnnyt]

I believe that beer companies, most notably Anheuser Busch, still put a lot of money into our sport, but they do so at the amateur and league level, not at the pro level.

That's probably one of the reasons a lot of regional tours are leaning more to the amateur players. Easier to get sponsorship. Johnnyt

 

[nancewayne]

Why Did the Beer, wine & Booze Companies Quit Sponsoring pool?

You know, it's kind of funny, (not funny HA HA) that very often I see a pool table in the background of many ads on TV. Someone in the AD industry MUST think that backdrop is "worthwhile" and effective in advertising !!!




I believe due to the poor following of pool on a national level (i.e. television and print) this is a losing proposition for the manufacturers.
This then raises the question, "Does spending $120,000 on a pro tour gain half a million beer sales?" My thoughts are probably not. I think the original Trudeau model was a good fit as it partnered online gambling. This is something that would increase from pool tournament exposure and has a very high profit margin. For whatever reason the sponsorship by these sites was not allowed despite the fact that they now advertise on TV regularly.

If we want pool to have major sponsorship, someone should approach MTV with a reality series. There was a woman at Derby who was filming for a film festival type movie. I thought this was a great idea for exposure. I think a group of guys/girls followed by a camera crew into bars and pool rooms across the country with a competition to see who could win/hustle the most money would be a great show and could bring in some serious add revenue, culminating in a large national tournament at the end of the show season.[/QUOTE]

 

[Run the Century]

Would be interesting ...

To hold the fire to a particular company - ie band together pool players and not drink Budweiser until they started sponsoring pool - I imagine pool players drink a fair amount to their beer.

 

[billiardshot]

Don't have the answer. But look at all the Free Ad, they get with their Pool Table Light fixture.

 

[LWW]

My guess is very similar to IBA's.

From my experience, league players ... and players in general ... are more likely to be extremely frugal than big spenders.

I have seen numerous, including folks on my team, players who will come to league ... accept the house's free one drink ... sip water the rest of the night, and never frequent the place sponsoring the team.

IOW ... if a bar owner has a hard time recouping the expense of a few tee shirts, how does a major company expect to recoup the expense of an ad campaign?

LWW

 

[TheBook]

Do you think that it might be because Keith stopped playing?

Or is it because those industries are trying to promote a better image and don't feel pool will do that.

 

[SCCues]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

This is just a theory of mine, but it may be because of the Law Suit when Don Mackey sued RJ Reynolds. I know RJ Reynolds is a cigarette company, but they were a corporate sponsor for men's pro pool and the Pro Billiards Tour President (Don Mackey) sued them and took them to court. Maybe other corporate companies who could sponsor pool don't want to take a chance on supporting pool because of what happened to RJ Reynolds.......

James

 

[justadub]

My guess is very similar to IBA's.

From my experience, league players ... and players in general ... are more likely to be extremely frugal than big spenders.

I have seen numerous, including folks on my team, players who will come to league ... accept the house's free one drink ... sip water the rest of the night, and never frequent the place sponsoring the team.

IOW ... if a bar owner has a hard time recouping the expense of a few tee shirts, how does a major company expect to recoup the expense of an ad campaign?

LWW

I guess Leagues are different here. I don't recall seeing anyone "sipping water". Maybe some are drinking sodas instead of beers, but for the most part, the places we play wouldn't have nearly the amount of business on a Tuesday as they do when we are there. (MUCH higher profit margin on fountain soda over beer, BTW.) If even half of us buy one beer and nothing else they are ahead of the game, and many of us have more than one beer, and some buy food too. The club I belong to does well enough as a host location that they actually pay our League fees each session, for three teams. I guess they're getting more people drinking than folks "sipping water".

As for why there aren't more large-scale sponsorships, I think it's been hit upon before. TV, TV, TV. That is where it's at. Pool doesn't draw a large crowd of spectators, so the target audience is primarily players. Players will play regardless, so the beer companies will get their message across with the table lights, mirrors, and local promotions (reduced price beer nights, the occasional t-shirts/hats giveaways) without any major advertising investment.

IF pool was on TV on a regular basis, there would be promotional tie-ins, no doubt. And yes, that does present a chicken-or-the-egg situation of sorts, because without greater sponsorship money, the tours aren't going to get bigger and attract the kind of attention that TV would require. IMHO, it will take a beer company that isn't Bud or Miller and wants to make a splash somewhere by trying something different. But if I recall correctly, Bud and Miller have pretty much bought up all of the smaller companies, or at least their distribution. (I don't see Sam Adams sponsoring any national tour, much as I would love it!) Perhaps one of the smaller brands under the big guys umbrella can use pool as it's niche, and if that were the case, that could lead to the big guys involvement later.

Still, no major national organization creates a MAJOR obstacle to this happening. Perhaps the players and regional tour operators need to get together and try to reach a consensus, to work together for the greater good? OK, I won't hold my breath...

 

[TheBook]

My guess is very similar to IBA's.

From my experience, league players ... and players in general ... are more likely to be extremely frugal than big spenders.

I have seen numerous, including folks on my team, players who will come to league ... accept the house's free one drink ... sip water the rest of the night, and never frequent the place sponsoring the team.

IOW ... if a bar owner has a hard time recouping the expense of a few tee shirts, how does a major company expect to recoup the expense of an ad campaign?

LWW

There are some nights that I just drink water. When it comes time for the team drink there is always one player that wants me to get them my free drink since I am not drinking and then gets irrate because I refuse to do it.

Other times a player may leave and they try to get that free one for a friend who is not on the team.

 

[watchez]

Isn't Stevie Moore sponsored by some beer company?

I remember a few years back they had a challenge, I believe by Crown Royal, where league players competed and the winner got a chance to play Jeanette Lee during the BCA tournaments in May for like $50K or something like that.

I run tournaments outside of pool and gladly get Budweiser/Miller Lite to donate at minimum $1,000 in prizes/giveaways/promotions. This should be done at a larger scale for both men and women pro pool events.

 

[Scaramouche]

Watching snooker from China - Shanghai Open Beijing Open - on Chinese TV feed, sponsors were a high end Chinese car, two expensive booze brands, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried, and the Golden Arches.

The Championship League - no audience - is strictly a web production for the benefit of betting companies

The Championship League began in 2008 where it was shown on three betting websites. Such has been its popularity that it is this year being streamed on 12.

from 7.2.10
Taking Stock
http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

Your question is a valid one, and I hope I can answer your question, and maybe give you an idea.

Here in the Valley of the Sun we have (2) Budweiser Distributors and at one time I called both, and ask why both Golden Eagle (West Valley), and Hernsley (East Valley) the people at Budweiser (aka A-B Distributors) do not support Pool in the Valley.

The reply was the same, and Bar or Room Owner first need to ask the A-B Salesman for the help they want be it sign age, raffle prizes, sponsorship etc. But like I said in the Valley of the Sun it all start with the Bar or Room Owner asking their A-B Salesman for Sponsorship, etc..

Now I know in Montana A-B does sponsor Pool, and one of the thing they do is add like $.25/Bottle of A-B Products sold during an events they sponsor to the Prize Fun.

Honestly years ago Camel Brand Cigarettes supported Pool, and them took their money to other venues. But there are many Camel Pool Table Light sill in use in several of the bar in the valley.

Lastly I will share what I have been told by several in the billiard industry, when I ask why doesn’t Corporate America support Pool.

The reply in so many words was the average pool player has a credit score of X, and NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NFL Fans have a much high average CREDIT SCORES, and the bean counters in Corporate America want to spend their advertising dollar trying to reach the people with the most discretionary income to spend.

It boils down to dollar and cents! Sundays Super Bowl was a good example of what A-B spend on advertising at $2.5 Mil a pop, how many time did you see an A-B Commercial during the Super Bowl? MANY, too many for me to remember!

If you honestly want to know why the people selling Beer, Wine, Hard Liquor in you area are not supporting Pool, make the call your self, and ask the question to find out what is the reason where you live. It could be LAW, or just no one ever asked!

 

[Johnnyt]

Your question is a valid one, and I hope I can answer your question, and maybe give you an idea.

Here in the Valley of the Sun we have (2) Budweiser Distributors and at one time I called both, and ask why both Golden Eagle (West Valley), and Hernsley (East Valley) the people at Budweiser (aka A-B Distributors) do not support Pool in the Valley.

The reply was the same, and Bar or Room Owner first need to ask the A-B Salesman for the help they want be it sign age, raffle prizes, sponsorship etc. But like I said in the Valley of the Sun it all start with the Bar or Room Owner asking their A-B Salesman for Sponsorship, etc..

Now I know in Montana A-B does sponsor Pool, and one of the thing they do is add like $.25/Bottle of A-B Products sold during an events they sponsor to the Prize Fun.

Honestly years ago Camel Brand Cigarettes supported Pool, and them took their money to other venues. But there are many Camel Pool Table Light sill in use in several of the bar in the valley.

Lastly I will share what I have been told by several in the billiard industry, when I ask why doesn’t Corporate America support Pool.

The reply in so many words was the average pool player has a credit score of X, and NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NFL Fans have a much high average CREDIT SCORES, and the bean counters in Corporate America want to spend their advertising dollar trying to reach the people with the most discretionary income to spend.

It boils down to dollar and cents! Sundays Super Bowl was a good example of what A-B spend on advertising at $2.5 Mil a pop, how many time did you see an A-B Commercial during the Super Bowl? MANY, too many for me to remember!

If you honestly want to know why the people selling Beer, Wine, Hard Liquor in you area are not supporting Pool, make the call your self, and ask the question to find out what is the reason where you live. It could be LAW, or just no one ever asked!

Good post...and I will call. Johnnyt

 

[ghost ball]

I know what happened to the cigarette sponsors (Camel Tour), but why did the beer and booze companies like Bud and Gordon's Gin stop sponsoring pool tours? With all the sports bars around the country with enough tables for a small to mid-sized tournament I would think it would be a good deal for those types of companies. Johnnyt

Maybe because of stories like this? http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/a-clockwork-orange/barts-pub-garden-grove-assault/