2014 US Open 9-Ball Championship: 128-player field, $1,000 entry fee

[realkingcobra]

One thing I might mentino is that in addition to the 128 entry fees of $1,000, if it fills up, Barry also collects monies for vendor booths, gate fees to get in to watch, VIP seats, title sponsors to have their name in the ring in full view for Accu-Stats, et cetera.

And out of that, he has to pay for the tables, space, help...providing the number of people show up to watch and spend. A few years back, I moved 5 Diamond's from the event to his pool room, and put 5 of his GC3's in storage...when he paid me, his check bounced. When I went back to get paid for real...he paid me from the US Open prize fund!!!...so, which players didn't get paid because I got paid $1,500 from the players fund?

 

[JAM]

And out of that, he has to pay for the tables, space, help...providing the number of people show up to watch and spend. A few years back, I moved 5 Diamond's from the event to his pool room, and put 5 of his GC3's in storage...when he paid me, his check bounced. When I went back to get paid for real...he paid me from the US Open prize fund!!!...so, which players didn't get paid because I got paid $1,500 from the players fund?

It used to be that way. What's difficult with the payouts in a tournament of this magnitude is that sometimes the players want to get paid before the end of the tournament, and if he is depending on gate fees or vendor fees to pay out, this can cause a problem. I think he has recognized this problem and fixed it.

I haven't been to many tournaments on the West Coast, but I can honestly say that I love this event. I don't know if it's because it's in Virginia, feeling that cool ocean breeze in my hair when I'm outside, but I hope the Open continues to flourish.

People with an axe to grind are going to come forward and try to condemn the Open, and that is their right to do so, but I see a man who is PASSIONATE about pool, so much so that he has made some sacrifices in his own personal life to keep this Open going.

Has he made mistakes? Yep, but I think each year, he tries to do better. I'm thankful to Barry Behrman and the Open. It's one of the coolest tournaments on the pool circuit, and if you were to ask any pro player today about this title, it's the one EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM wants to have on their portfolio.

 

[realkingcobra]

It used to be that way. What's difficult with the payouts in a tournament of this magnitude is that sometimes the players want to get paid before the end of the tournament, and if he is depending on gate fees or vendor fees to pay out, this can cause a problem. I think he has recognized this problem and fixed it.

I haven't been to many tournaments on the West Coast, but I can honestly say that I love this event. I don't know if it's because it's in Virginia, feeling that cool ocean breeze in my hair when I'm outside, but I hope the Open continues to flourish.

People with an axe to grind are going to come forward and try to condemn the Open, and that is their right to do so, but I see a man who is PASSIONATE about pool, so much so that he has made some sacrifices in his own personal life to keep this Open going.

Has he made mistakes? Yep, but I think each year, he tries to do better. I'm thankful to Barry Behrman and the Open. It's one of the coolest tournaments on the pool circuit, and if you were to ask any pro player today about this title, it's the one EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM wants to have on their portfolio.

I hear you JAM, but my idea would work on how to raise the funds for the US OPEN and make it even better, hell skill level testing could start even a year before the event, which would even leave time for some players to get some lessons to help improve their score enough to make the cut....providing they knew what the cut to make it was. No one just because they own a race car, can race in the Indy 500...if they can't make the cut in the time trials, which is what makes for a better race on race day...only the best get to drive:grin:

 

[JAM]

I am playing REAL good lately. But, play at home on BIG BERTHA !!! Tell Keith if he wants to get in stroke he is always welcome to come by!!!

KD

You're always a great sparring partner, Kid. I'm sure he would love that!

 

[realkingcobra]

What's difficult with the payouts in a tournament of this magnitude is that sometimes the players want to get paid before the end of the tournament, and if he is depending on gate fees or vendor fees to pay out, this can cause a problem.

The problem with your above statement is where Barry gets in trouble, he's using the players money and HIS added money like gambling, to pay for all his up front expenses, then hoping to make enough on everything else to pay him back in time to pay out the winings. BUT, the players entry fee's and added money is suppose to be separated from the money to pay for everything else up front. Meaning, Barry don't have the added money in hand by the time the US Open starts, and when the gate and everything else comes up short, so does Barry, and so do the players. The problem with players cashing out early is that yes Barry has the money to pay them, BUT he's taking it out of the funds to pay the ending players first as they're still playing, so when it comes time to pay the winners, if he's short on raising the full amount....they're the ones that end up short. Now cut the players numbers in half, and cut out the number of people showing up to pay that gate so to speak, and you have an even bigger problem, even if he does have a full field of 128 players that all paid $1,000 each to play....where is Barry coming up with the $50,000 added if he don't already have it in hand??

 

[JAM]

The problem with your above statement is where Barry gets in trouble, he's using the players money and HIS added money like gambling, to pay for all his up front expenses, then hoping to make enough on everything else to pay him back in time to pay out the winings. BUT, the players entry fee's and added money is suppose to be separated from the money to pay for everything else up front. Meaning, Barry don't have the added money in hand by the time the US Open starts, and when the gate and everything else comes up short, so does Barry, and so do the players. The problem with players cashing out early is that yes Barry has the money to pay them, BUT he's taking it out of the funds to pay the ending players first as they're still playing, so when it comes time to pay the winners, if he's short on raising the full amount....they're the ones that end up short. Now cut the players numbers in half, and cut out the number of people showing up to pay that gate so to speak, and you have an even bigger problem, even if he does have a full field of 128 players that all paid $1,000 each to play....where is Barry coming up with the $50,000 added if he don't already have it in hand??

I believe Barry has changed this method of payment. Personally, I thikn they should make all the players wait until the end to get paid. Most larger tournaments do that, and this would solve that problem.

The $50,000 comes from vendor booth rental, gate admittance fees, VIP seating, et cetera.

 

[realkingcobra]

I believe Barry has changed this method of payment. Personally, I thikn they should make all the players wait until the end to get paid. Most larger tournaments do that, and this would solve that problem.

The $50,000 comes from vendor booth rental, gate admittance fees, VIP seating, et cetera.

So then you agree with me, the $50,000 is like fireing an air barrel hoping you win so you don't have to blow your cover and everyone finds out you're holding 200 $1.00 bills wrapped in ONE $100 dollar bill on the outside....right?

 

[JAM]

So then you agree with me, the $50,000 is like fireing an air barrel hoping you win so you don't have to blow your cover and everyone finds out you're holding 200 $1.00 bills wrapped in ONE $100 dollar bill on the outside....right?

I don't think it is too far-fetched to believe that the income from gate fees, vendor booth rentals, VIP seats, and the Q-Master's income from people hanging out there could generate up to the $50,000.

 

[realkingcobra]

I don't think it is too far-fetched to believe that the income from gate fees, vendor booth rentals, VIP seats, and the Q-Master's income from people hanging out there could generate up to the $50,000.

I'd think that with a year to get ready for the US Open to take place, Barry would have taken that time to raise the $50,000 so he could show everyone that he DOES indeed have it, and it's set aside for the event. Then, he can bet on himself when it comes to recapturing his added money through the gate sales, vendor booths etc...

 

[pletho]

There should never be a problem EVER with monies promised to be payed out, if you are a respectable, trustworthy person with integrity, then you would pay everything promised even if it comes out of your own pocket, and you should be the one waiting on the profit monies from the tournament to see if you end up in the black or red.

You should never risk the money promised, or spend it, it should always go to the players, and they should never be stiffed EVER,

How many pool players will play a person who they know fires air barrels? None who are smart.

Now, shift that to a tournament, why play in a tournament, which is ran by someone who has air barreled people in the past? Ludicrous.

 

[itsfroze]

I just want to wish Barry Good Luck with the 39th U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships.


I am very glad that you decided not to take a year off.
Also I'm glad that you are making the paid players names
available in your Sun Trust account for all to see as I
think that will help with entries.
The floor plan also sounds like a winner. Well done ! :thumbup:

 

[realkingcobra]

I don't think it is too far-fetched to believe that the income from gate fees, vendor booth rentals, VIP seats, and the Q-Master's income from people hanging out there could generate up to the $50,000.

In having already ran 37 US Open's in the past, how many tries does it take to get it right? Or is Barry just doomed to keep runing it HIS way reguardless of the outcome, even if it's loosing players every year because of how Barry IS running it, and just refuses to get it right.

 

[jay helfert]

I don't think it is too far-fetched to believe that the income from gate fees, vendor booth rentals, VIP seats, and the Q-Master's income from people hanging out there could generate up to the $50,000.

I'm surprised at you Jam for supporting a construct like this. We used to call this "betting on the if come." A helluva way to run a major pool tournament. I will tell you one thing and you can ask your partner if it's true. He should know. Any and every tournament I ever put on, ALL the added money was in an account with the entry fee money from day one!

 

[jay helfert]

The problem with your above statement is where Barry gets in trouble, he's using the players money and HIS added money like gambling, to pay for all his up front expenses, then hoping to make enough on everything else to pay him back in time to pay out the winings. BUT, the players entry fee's and added money is suppose to be separated from the money to pay for everything else up front. Meaning, Barry don't have the added money in hand by the time the US Open starts, and when the gate and everything else comes up short, so does Barry, and so do the players. The problem with players cashing out early is that yes Barry has the money to pay them, BUT he's taking it out of the funds to pay the ending players first as they're still playing, so when it comes time to pay the winners, if he's short on raising the full amount....they're the ones that end up short. Now cut the players numbers in half, and cut out the number of people showing up to pay that gate so to speak, and you have an even bigger problem, even if he does have a full field of 128 players that all paid $1,000 each to play....where is Barry coming up with the $50,000 added if he don't already have it in hand??

Bingo, thanks for stating the obvious!

 

[dom_poppa]

I'm surprised at you Jam for supporting a construct like this. We used to call this "betting on the if come." A helluva way to run a major pool tournament. I will tell you one thing and you can ask your partner if it's true. He should know. Any and every tournament I ever put on, ALL the added money was in an account with the entry fee money from day one!

Weekly tournaments are not comparable to the grander scale of a US Open tournament. The logistics are different here.

 

[Blaine B.]

I like the $1000 entry, it builds prestige. Billiards needs to build prestige. I'll run a local qualifier, $100 entry capped at 64. The exchange rate might sting a little but who cares.

 

[realkingcobra]

Weekly tournaments are not comparable to the grander scale of a US Open tournament. The logistics are different here.

Then why don't all this shit come up with not having the money to PAY the players at the Derby City Classic? which has FAR more players, and three times the events?

 

[realkingcobra]

I like the $1000 entry, it builds prestige. Billiards needs to build prestige. I'll run a local qualifier, $100 entry capped at 64. The exchange rate might sting a little but who cares.

I like the idea of skill level tesing players to first see if they have what it takes to play, and that can be done in a thousand places around the world, without a player having to travel to compete and spend a bunch of money for nothing. If it were done my way, all 256 players that get to play would win something back!!! Testing could be performed in thousands of pool rooms around the world, bring in business to all the pool rooms that offer the skill level testing. Not only that, the scores would for the first time in history, set some kind of bar as to what is considered to be playin on a PRO level, you know like....test your skills against the rated scores of the top 256 players in the world, then YOU know where you stand as a player!!!

 

[Blaine B.]

I like the idea of skill level tesing players to first see if they have what it takes to play, and that can be done in a thousand places around the world, without a player having to travel to compete and spend a bunch of money for nothing. If it were done my way, all 256 players that get to play would win something back!!! Testing could be performed in thousands of pool rooms around the world, bring in business to all the pool rooms that offer the skill level testing. Not only that, the scores would for the first time in history, set some kind of bar as to what is considered to be playin on a PRO level, you know like....test your skills against the rated scores of the top 256 players in the world, then YOU know where you stand as a player!!!

As do I, great idea. Let's do it.

 

[itsfroze]

I like the idea of skill level tesing players to first see if they have what it takes to play, and that can be done in a thousand places around the world, without a player having to travel to compete and spend a bunch of money for nothing. If it were done my way, all 256 players that get to play would win something back!!! Testing could be performed in thousands of pool rooms around the world, bring in business to all the pool rooms that offer the skill level testing. Not only that, the scores would for the first time in history, set some kind of bar as to what is considered to be playin on a PRO level, you know like....test your skills against the rated scores of the top 256 players in the world, then YOU know where you stand as a player!!!

Agree that is a good idea, raises money, strengthens the field, and makes for a better tournament for the fans. However will local tours ban people who make the cut ?