SBE Poll
- Thread starter Rich R.
- Start date
Easy to get around, everything right there. Some decent food would have been nice. Cold $3 hot dogs suck. But there was a good restaurant about a 1/3 of a mile away. I liked it, will be back. Very few deals to be found so early. (Thursday)
I agree......The building is a warehouse and the tables had no lighting over them!!!! just the lights on the ceiling 30 ft up. I know he did the best he could but on a 1-10 scale its a 2
I agree......The building is a warehouse and the tables had no lighting over them!!!! just the lights on the ceiling 30 ft up. I know he did the best he could but on a 1-10 scale its a 2
You are aware that they didnt have lights over the tables at the old venue right??
Building leaves much to be desired!
The place does look like an old ware house. The cement was killer after being on your feet for 12-14 hours.
The layout is nice, but certain doors, your not coming back in if you go out. I don't understand this. If you have your hand stamped, what difference does it make which door you come back in?
There weren't any lights over the tables at the other venue, but there were a lot less shadows. I believe it had to do with ceiling heights. The tables played great however. Love those Diamonds!
The choice of food seemed weak compared to what was at the other venue and yea, $7.75 for a dog and a beer is a bit much. However, as mentioned in an earlier thread, the restaurant that is in the same vicinity (Max & Emmas??) was good food with decent prices.
Over all, I would like to see a different venue for next year. I realize, trying to find a place to house that many people, that much parking, and that many tables, is not an easy place to find. I think Alan does a great job with this event, and am thankful to have an Expo this close to where I live, to be able to be a part of it.
With all that being said.....I will come back next year and every year there after,as long as I can, to support this venue, so that this too doesn't disappear like some of our other events.:wink:
The place does look like an old ware house. The cement was killer after being on your feet for 12-14 hours.
The layout is nice, but certain doors, your not coming back in if you go out. I don't understand this. If you have your hand stamped, what difference does it make which door you come back in?
There weren't any lights over the tables at the other venue, but there were a lot less shadows. I believe it had to do with ceiling heights. The tables played great however. Love those Diamonds!
The choice of food seemed weak compared to what was at the other venue and yea, $7.75 for a dog and a beer is a bit much. However, as mentioned in an earlier thread, the restaurant that is in the same vicinity (Max & Emmas??) was good food with decent prices.
Over all, I would like to see a different venue for next year. I realize, trying to find a place to house that many people, that much parking, and that many tables, is not an easy place to find. I think Alan does a great job with this event, and am thankful to have an Expo this close to where I live, to be able to be a part of it.
With all that being said.....I will come back next year and every year there after,as long as I can, to support this venue, so that this too doesn't disappear like some of our other events.:wink:
I cant vote for either option. Its only the first year at this location and they can work out the kinks as they have with any venue. In my opinion they will need to address some of the issues publicly as the scuttle butt is a common theme of dislike for the venue. If they dont they could lose quite a bit of players next year.
For a building that size with a huge parking lot, they absolutely need to allow access at every door. Since everyone smokes outside of every exit, you would believe that each door is open, however it might not of been the case. Outside of convenience of door use to your vehicle location, it is a safety issue. Having to walk all the way around that building at late hours could lead to problems. Havent heard of any yet, but I have been very conscious about my surroundings.
My group has pretty much been in that building for 14-16 hours each day including Wednesday and the prices seem very high when you are eating up to two-three times there.
Its still a great event with something for everyone which is the big draw to keep volumes of people coming each year. One last thing, as a vendor providing quarter based pool tables, please provide quarters. Having to hope to get a few quarters back from the concession is not good.
Headed back now.
For a building that size with a huge parking lot, they absolutely need to allow access at every door. Since everyone smokes outside of every exit, you would believe that each door is open, however it might not of been the case. Outside of convenience of door use to your vehicle location, it is a safety issue. Having to walk all the way around that building at late hours could lead to problems. Havent heard of any yet, but I have been very conscious about my surroundings.
My group has pretty much been in that building for 14-16 hours each day including Wednesday and the prices seem very high when you are eating up to two-three times there.
Its still a great event with something for everyone which is the big draw to keep volumes of people coming each year. One last thing, as a vendor providing quarter based pool tables, please provide quarters. Having to hope to get a few quarters back from the concession is not good.
Headed back now.
This was my first year so I can't compare it to the other location, though I had been there for different events in the past. I thought the layout was good and it reminded me of the MD Sate Fairgrounds. The floor did kill my feet by the end of the day, but I brought my own food so i wouldn't have to lose my parking place. I thought the lighting was fine. You could switch to the Baltimore Convention Center so that way I would only have to drive 15 minutes.
Yeah but never noticed it much.....this place is much darker and the ceiling is well....like a warehouse with girders and sheet metal. Many off the senior players commented on the shadows on the table. Might not effect most with great eye sight but us old farts it doesnt help:grin:
Just an update...thanks rich I thought there were light but I kept picturing the downstairs at the old place. I think overall most had a good time there its just we were all spoiled with the old venue. I am sure alan did his best and will fix most of these problems but it will never be the same. The us open is also moving this year so thats another place in for a big change. And yes i was at sbe this year and did play havent missed a show in 12 years.
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Went down Friday for about 4 hours. I live a little over an hour away so I have been to every one they ever had. That includes the first year in New Jersey and the one time they had an Expo in August.The old one was much nicer. This kind of reminded me of an Indoor flea market in some sh*thole abandoned warehouse.Everything kind of looked the same so you couldnt tell if you had seen all of the vendors. I asked about 10 of the vendors there how they liked it and I dont remember one positive response. I thought it also was a pain to get to and leave. PA turnpike only a few miles away and hard to find.
I go every year also. I liked having everything on one floor. Seemed like somewhat less vendors than last year but maybe it was my imagination due to the layout. I really enjoyed the Pro arena as you were right up there close to the players. I sat in the VIP section for $20.00 a session. My only complaint is that if you wanted to watch the second session it cost another $20.00 to watch. Should be a discount if you watch both sessions. Got to see Earl play, he yelled out after a shot, "I'll be in the soup line soon!" Great one liner from The Pearl. :thumbup: Overall I had a good time, and I'll go back, maybe tomorrow....damm I knew I should have gotten the weekend pass!
Actually, there were lights over each table on the upper level of the old place. The lower level didn't have the table lights but it was much brighter than the new place.
That is 50% correct, and also misleading. Downstairs, they did not have lights over the tables, but the overhead ceiling lights were brighter, closer, and offered far better lighting. Upstairs, they did indeed have the diamond lights over the tables.
These facts aside, the lighting at the new venue was terrible and unacceptable for playing pool. Let's hope they get that figured out.
KMRUNOUT
The old venue was definitely better than new one.It was like a warehouse and people are not comfortable playing coz it was too cold inside.It also afffects the speed of table and ruins the bumper of my cue because of the concrete floor.I really hope Allen Hopkins could find another place.If this is going to be held again in the same venue next year,i can't see myself going again.
Thank you, Allen Hopkins and Allen Jr., when you read this thread, for keeping the Super Billiards Expo alive. We are fortunate to have a pool happening of this magnitude on the East Coast, considering some industry members are located in the West Coast or Vegas region of the world.
Keep it going, Allen! Wishing you all the very best!
Okay. AzBilliards Gold Star of the Day goes out to who can name the place where this photo was taken. :grin-square:
Keep it going, Allen! Wishing you all the very best!
Okay. AzBilliards Gold Star of the Day goes out to who can name the place where this photo was taken. :grin-square:
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I spent all day at the Expo yesterday, and yes the concrete floors were rough after a few hours. I thought the concession prices were fairly reasonable for an event like that. I was recently at a concert in Philly where they were charging $9.50 for a cup of beer, so $4 beers and average priced food was not so bad.
Some of my friends got to talk to Allen, and he specifically said that next year he would have table lights in there.
I did enjoy the old venue better than this one, but I will most certainly be back next year, and every year that I have the opportunity to attend such a great Pool event.
I spent all day at the Expo yesterday, and yes the concrete floors were rough after a few hours. I thought the concession prices were fairly reasonable for an event like that. I was recently at a concert in Philly where they were charging $9.50 for a cup of beer, so $4 beers and average priced food was not so bad.
Some of my friends got to talk to Allen, and he specifically said that next year he would have table lights in there.
I did enjoy the old venue better than this one, but I will most certainly be back next year, and every year that I have the opportunity to attend such a great Pool event.
Allens the only one trying..and I thank him for anything..
It doesnt really matter what we say or the poll says on here. Allens gonna do whats right for him. The only thing I liked about this years SBE was it being on one floor. Sometimes the help didnt know what door we could go in, or I should say everytime they would tell you to use the front the very next mintute they would tell you not to use the front and go around to the back side or side doors. And I was there from wedsndsay untill today, and each time therre was a different issue of which doors to use up till last night or where to park. And as far as the lighting above the tables,,there were isuues,,on the first side where we started the early tournamnets , it wasnt that bad with just useing the typical warehouse lighting,,but the lighting on the tables of the last ones they installed over on the side entrance where they would let us use sometimes in the arena area,,,very poor lighting,,there were alot of people complaining you couldnt even tell if the ball was on the rails thats how bad some tables were.. But the table lighting was the really only thing that botherered me, But the lighting up in the pit area was good...or good enough ...just wish the one side was alittle better..but every table i played on was great and rolled good..Just the lighting and parking issues. Oh and the bathroom issues also..only there not being enough.....were my only complaints..This place was where they do car shows.. that type of venue...but hey...WE GOTTA TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET FOR ONE THING !! And Allen is the only one steppping up...<< ED
It doesnt really matter what we say or the poll says on here. Allens gonna do whats right for him. The only thing I liked about this years SBE was it being on one floor. Sometimes the help didnt know what door we could go in, or I should say everytime they would tell you to use the front the very next mintute they would tell you not to use the front and go around to the back side or side doors. And I was there from wedsndsay untill today, and each time therre was a different issue of which doors to use up till last night or where to park. And as far as the lighting above the tables,,there were isuues,,on the first side where we started the early tournamnets , it wasnt that bad with just useing the typical warehouse lighting,,but the lighting on the tables of the last ones they installed over on the side entrance where they would let us use sometimes in the arena area,,,very poor lighting,,there were alot of people complaining you couldnt even tell if the ball was on the rails thats how bad some tables were.. But the table lighting was the really only thing that botherered me, But the lighting up in the pit area was good...or good enough ...just wish the one side was alittle better..but every table i played on was great and rolled good..Just the lighting and parking issues. Oh and the bathroom issues also..only there not being enough.....were my only complaints..This place was where they do car shows.. that type of venue...but hey...WE GOTTA TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET FOR ONE THING !! And Allen is the only one steppping up...<< ED
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I thought the new venue was ok. I wouldn't go so far as to call it terrible, but it definitely wasn't the VFCC either. The only main gripe I have is the table lighting (or lack there of) on the barboxes. It took a little while to adjust to start getting the balls to go in and some shots just didn't look right regardless of adjusting to the poor lighting.
It also did suck that a hotel isn't built on or right next to the new place and driving is required. The radisson was just a major convenience when it was at the old location.
Neither of these were deal breakers for me. I still had an awesome time and will be back next year (as long as it isn't on my daughters' birthday.
It also did suck that a hotel isn't built on or right next to the new place and driving is required. The radisson was just a major convenience when it was at the old location.
Neither of these were deal breakers for me. I still had an awesome time and will be back next year (as long as it isn't on my daughters' birthday.