Barry Behrman.....

[JCIN]

I would do it 100% for sure if I though I could make $$$ doing it.

I spoke to Barry a 2-3 years ago about getting involved with him, it didn't seem economically viable to me. The problem was not Barry, it was the numbers. I couldn't see how it could make $$.


I would promote a US Open 9 ball type of event, I wouldnt use that name because it isnt mine. But I'd do a event like that if It could make $$. I cant see the payday no matter how I do the math. I cant see a break even, I'm not going to do something to lose $50,000.


Sadly I dont think the tournament biz is a viable biz anymore. At least for anyone who isnt in it. Guys who are established like Mark Griffen might be able to pull it off and make it work, but to enter that biz now, its too difficult. Or i'm just not smart enough,

Only way Mark does it is because he runs the pro events in conjunction with the amateur events. The costs are spread way out compared to a stand alone pro event. You know all this most people dont seem to understand it.

I have said it for years: If running $25K added pro events made any sense at all there would be one every weekend. Without a sponsor to basically donate that added money you are 100% drawing dead.

Barry does the Open because hes the only one passionate/crazy enough to do it.

 

[justnum]

If the top players aren't getting paid, then the event was a meet and play an international pro day.

As for Barry well he made the move to the Holiday Inn, the issues with seating is his fault. He wanted out of Chesapeake and it cost him, he moved those costs to the players that placed well.

 

[Espartaco_7]

Only way Mark does it is because he runs the pro events in conjunction with the amateur events. The costs are spread way out compared to a stand alone pro event. You know all this most people dont seem to understand it.

I have said it for years: If running $25K added pro events made any sense at all there would be one every weekend. Without a sponsor to basically donate that added money you are 100% drawing dead.

Barry does the Open because hes the only one passionate/crazy enough to do it.

Agree with you. I think the tournaments would be profitable if there were more media coverage. A LOT of people likes pool, but pool organizations have been VERY DISORGANIZED and that is killing it.

Imagine if instead of 2 Leagues in baseball, we would have 24.... No one would sponsor and no one would cover that events. And I bet the players income would be a lot less.

Everything needs a master government body. Just my half cent.

 

[dbldown]

simple

If you don't like it don't play.
If you can do better,start your own tournament.
Without Bergman there is no US open period.

 

[cardiac kid]

If you don't like it don't play.

Agreed. WE have the power of the purse.

If you can do better,start your own tournament.

Agree again. Just like every other pool player complaining about the excessive amount of money made by the promoter or tournament director .

Without Bergman there is no US open period.

Not a chance! There are several people who could make it happen. Mark Griffin, Greg Sullivan (and family) for starters. Given enough lead time, I'd bet Mike Zuglan and the Turning Stone could do a great job of holding such an event. Mr Behrman is not the only one.

Lyn

 

[TheNewSharkster]

I was just thinking, the Mosconi Cup was played on Root Sports. I mean they played the whole thing. 1 hour every Monday for months. I don't think they missed one shot. Anyways, wouldn't get TV involved be a good first step? They already have all the equipment available to create a show.

 

[purpdrag]

I'm one of those who has defended Barry on several occasions and will continue to do so, while at the same time admitting that he's not perfect and I would do some things different if I were him. But I'm not him and I'm not running the US Open nor will I ever do so.

The reason I defend him is that he has done good things for pool and I believe his heart is in the right place.

Although I and others have said it before I'll go ahead and say it again. I see two basic fixes that are relatively easy to implement.

I hate to see the prize fund lowered but I think he should lower the money added at least until hopefully someday the sponsorship money picks up. The other thing is to market the whole event better to the fans. I go into details in another post, but it was like pulling teeth to find out how much it would cost to come see the action for one or two days.

 

[pro9dg]

Tv

I was just thinking, the Mosconi Cup was played on Root Sports. I mean they played the whole thing. 1 hour every Monday for months. I don't think they missed one shot. Anyways, wouldn't get TV involved be a good first step? They already have all the equipment available to create a show.

Beam me up Scotty! If it is on TV then by definition it must already be a TV show. It is owned, produced and managed by Matchroom Sport and is one of the hundreds of TV shows and thousands of hours of high quality sports programming that they produce. Pool, Snooker, Golf, Boxing, Tenpin Bowling, Fishing, Skeet Shooting, Bowls,Bushido, Poker are all Matchroom TV shows.

 

[TATE]

I'm one of those who has defended Barry on several occasions and will continue to do so, while at the same time admitting that he's not perfect and I would do some things different if I were him. But I'm not him and I'm not running the US Open nor will I ever do so.

The reason I defend him is that he has done good things for pool and I believe his heart is in the right place.

Although I and others have said it before I'll go ahead and say it again. I see two basic fixes that are relatively easy to implement.

I hate to see the prize fund lowered but I think he should lower the money added at least until hopefully someday the sponsorship money picks up. The other thing is to market the whole event better to the fans. I go into details in another post, but it was like pulling teeth to find out how much it would cost to come see the action for one or two days.

I just want to point out that good companies with deep pockets like Pepsi, ESPN, and Holiday Inn would not want to be associated with sponsorship if they knew that Barry couldn't meet his financial obligations. In order to make this a successful venture, I imagine the sponsorship and vendor support is critical.

This is really bad for pro pool.


It doesn't affect me in the least - as an outsider to the industry though, that is my oberservation and experience. All it takes is one mid-level exec at a company to say "wait a minute - he's the guy that couldn't pay the promised prizes on time, and we're getting in a partnership with him? Pool is bad action."

 

[edd]

I'm one of those who has defended Barry on several occasions and will continue to do so, while at the same time admitting that he's not perfect and I would do some things different if I were him. But I'm not him and I'm not running the US Open nor will I ever do so.

The reason I defend him is that he has done good things for pool and I believe his heart is in the right place.

Although I and others have said it before I'll go ahead and say it again. I see two basic fixes that are relatively easy to implement.

I hate to see the prize fund lowered but I think he should lower the money added at least until hopefully someday the sponsorship money picks up. The other thing is to market the whole event better to the fans. I go into details in another post, but it was like pulling teeth to find out how much it would cost to come see the action for one or two days.

I couldn't agree more. This year was my first time attending the Open. Nowhere on their website was it listed how to obtain tickets, other than the VIP seats. If I hadn't sent an email - and waited for a response - I wouldn't have known that I could obtain a ticket at the door. He definitely needs to improve his marketing efforts. Even locally, does he advertise: liberal distribution of flyers, etc? I realize that newspaper, radio and TV spots are expensive. But, he needs to also lure the non-pool playing community for the opportunity to witness these stellar performers.

Also, I agree he needs to cease with the promise of added prize money, which he either knows upfront he can't produce or the gamble is simply too risky. Scale it back, even if the roster of players is less, especially the foreign players. Then, hope for increased revenue from sponsors once he can show solvency.

As previously mentioned by others, place the entry fees in escrow and include a reasonable percentage of the gate and sponsor fees. Then, either pay the players immediately at the end of the tournament or be very clear upfront that payment in full will be received within 30-60 days.

Lastly, he should consider having the staff on the floor and the players dress better, dare I say! I'm not talking tuxedos here; merely, dress slacks and a polo shirt. Even though I am a professional person, I was raised working class/lower middle-class, so I'm definitely not an elitist. Improve the image of this marvelous game/sport and the money will follow!!

 

[Mark Griffin]

TATE is right!!

I just want to point out that good companies with deep pockets like Pepsi, ESPN, and Holiday Inn would not want to be associated with sponsorship if they knew that Barry couldn't meet his financial obligations. In order to make this a successful venture, I imagine the sponsorship and vendor support is critical.

This is really bad for pro pool.


It doesn't affect me in the least - as an outsider to the industry though, that is my oberservation and experience. All it takes is one mid-level exec at a company to say "wait a minute - he's the guy that couldn't pay the promised prizes on time, and we're getting in a partnership with him? Pool is bad action."

This is what some people just don't seem to grasp. I have made this type of observation on other pool events. When a pool operator screws up, it affects ALL POOL EVENTS.

Mark Griffin

 

[Bob Jewett]

This is what some people just don't seem to grasp. I have made this type of observation on other pool events. When a pool operator screws up, it affects ALL POOL EVENTS.

Mark Griffin

I've heard that the Camel pro pool sponsorship which ended in a loss in court for RJR is used as an example in business schools of how not to handle a sponsorship.

And I wonder how soon the Peppermill in Reno will want to host another pool tournament.