2014 And Beyond Pro Tournaments

[Johnnyt]

Unless a sugar daddy comes alone early next year, there will only be 3 pro tournaments as of now. To me it looks like the trend will be to 16-32 player invitational tournaments (mostly 16). If any of you remember in an interview for the launching of the ABP the top players including SVB said they would like to just have pro tournaments with no amateurs. I LOL then and I’m really laughing now, as it looks like they have got their wish. The cream will still rise to the top, but the purse money will get split up a lot different by the end of 2014. SVB will be lucky if he makes 75k in 2014. As they say, “be careful what you wish for”. Johnnyt

 

[BeiberLvr]

A 32 player pro tour would be ideal. No invites though. You would have to qualify through open events across the country. Ultimately the goal should be to get as many non-pool related sponsors as possible, and eliminate entry fees. This could be done if there was a way for them to get some sort of ROI, and that's the challenging part.

What I picture is a tour that lasts 16 weeks, that consists of four 4 week phases, and where points are awarded in the pro events to qualify for a major. Something like

Week 1 - Qualifier
Week 2 - Pro Event (32 player)
Week 3 - Pro Event (32 player)
Week 4 - Major (top 16)

If there was something as consistent as that, then I think it would be easy to determine rankings.

As for the game(s) and format. I think 8b/9b/10b. Something along the lines of races to 5 or 7, best out of 3. First set would be 8b. Second set would be 9b, and if needed, the third set would be 10b.

The next step would be TV coverage (ESPN most likely), and the best time of the year to run the season would be from June - September. The only major sport running around that time is baseball, and this would also ensure the season doesn't interfere with Derby.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Johnnyt]

A 32 player pro tour would be ideal. No invites though. You would have to qualify through open events across the country. Ultimately the goal should be to get as many non-pool related sponsors as possible, and eliminate entry fees. This could be done if there was a way for them to get some sort of ROI, and that's the challenging part.

What I picture is a tour that lasts 16 weeks, that consists of four 4 week phases, and where points are awarded in the pro events to qualify for a major. Something like

Week 1 - Qualifier
Week 2 - Pro Event (32 player)
Week 3 - Pro Event (32 player)
Week 4 - Major (top 16)

If there was something as consistent as that, then I think it would be easy to determine rankings.

As for the game(s) and format. I think 8b/9b/10b. Something along the lines of races to 5 or 7, best out of 3. First set would be 8b. Second set would be 9b, and if needed, the third set would be 10b.

The next step would be TV coverage (ESPN most likely), and the best time of the year to run the season would be from June - September. The only major sport running around that time is baseball, and this would also ensure the season doesn't interfere with Derby.

Just some thoughts.

Sounds like a good plan, but I think invites for the next 2 years is the way to go to shake some of the problems out, or at least wake them up. Johnnyt

 

[Joe_Jaguar]

Unless a sugar daddy comes alone early next year, there will only be 3 pro tournaments as of now. To me it looks like the trend will be to 16-32 player invitational tournaments (mostly 16). If any of you remember in an interview for the launching of the ABP the top players including SVB said they would like to just have pro tournaments with no amateurs. I LOL then and I’m really laughing now, as it looks like they have got their wish. The cream will still rise to the top, but the purse money will get split up a lot different by the end of 2014. SVB will be lucky if he makes 75k in 2014. As they say, “be careful what you wish for”. Johnnyt

So the large events remaining in US will be?
Derby
US Open 9 Ball
US Open bar tables
Turning Stone (1)
SBE Pro Event (nothing yet on if this is going to be canceled?)

 

[BeiberLvr]

Sounds like a good plan, but I think invites for the next 2 years is the way to go to shake some of the problems out, or at least wake them up. Johnnyt

It's a plan that could definitely work, even without TV coverage. In fact, it would probably have to work before TV would even want to get involved.

The problem with what's been done in the past, is that everyone wants to be millionaires from the start. You have to learn how to walk before you can run.