Barry Hearn ~ Snooker May Rival Golf

[Colin Colenso]

For those interested in the future of cue sports and how Barry Hearn has been revolutionizing snooker in the 5 years since he took over the game, this 40 minute press conference held last week at the World Snooker Champs provides some great insights.

https://youtu.be/-NXyHQwHcgw?t=5m44s

He arrives 5 mins 44 seconds in, in case the link doesn't take you there directly.

A significant point he raises is that snooker gets much better ratings than golf in Europe, and that perceptions of the sport are gradually changing, such that Snooker may rival Golf in 10 years.

Currently the tour has $8MM prize money, guaranteed to grow to $10MM in 2016. (That may be pounds).

 

[Ron Swanson]

Yes, pounds, with £500,000 to the winner of the world championships. Stuart Bingham won £300k last night. He's had worse days...

 

[one stroke]

Obviously he's talking the Euro PGA tour ,,,, the guy washing the ball for the winner of the British is making 300k






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[spartan]

Hearn is talking big and hyping things up. He is good for snooker/pool but may be much better politician
Even if golf has lower ratings than snooker the prizemoney, ad $$ in golf will still be more than snooker. I mean golf is for the haves , those who can afford
It is one of most boring sports in world , way more boring than pool but still it has big money- cos the revenue per fan/spectator for golf is way more than the cheapos revenue per fan/spectator of pool

 

[bdorman]

It's nice to know that even a fellow as old as Barry Hearn can still enjoy a big, fat doobie once in while.

 

[robertod]

can't agree with this

It is one of most boring sports in world , way more boring than pool

Just because you can't appreciate cutting a shot from 185 yards to back right portion of a massive undulating green with a right to left wind on the eighteen hole when there is hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line does not mean golf is not exciting. Golf can produce unbelievable drama just like pool.

 

[one stroke]

It is one of most boring sports in world , way more boring than pool

Just because you can't appreciate cutting a shot from 185 yards to back right portion of a massive undulating green with a right to left wind on the eighteen hole when there is hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line does not mean golf is not exciting. Golf can produce unbelievable drama just like pool.

Forget hundreds of thousands , a putt to win the masters this yr was worth , 1.8 million dollars ,

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[drv4]

I absolutely love pool, but golf is much more difficult and more entertaining on TV to me.

 

[j_zippel]

Not a chance, let's be real

 

[Swighey]

Well it is Barry Hearn's job to talk it up. It will never rival golf but it will get bigger - it is already going global and the prize money is going up, up, up. The World Championship winning amount reached GBP250k, dropped to 200k during tough times and is now heading upwards again, supposedly to 500k and beyond. The sport is made for Barry Hearn, as is darts - a sport that he has revolutionised in TV and money terms. If the WPA knew what was good for them they would get him onside too.

 

[spartan]

Just because you can't appreciate cutting a shot from 185 yards to back right portion of a massive undulating green with a right to left wind on the eighteen hole when there is hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line does not mean golf is not exciting. Golf can produce unbelievable drama just like pool.

Let us be serious golf ain't like sex. Just cos you enjoy doing it does not mean you enjoy watching it :grin-square:
I tot cricket was boring but golf is way more boring . Darts is boring but they have nice big tour that makes millionaires out of top players. Chess is probably most boring but the top players still make millions $$
So that dispels the drivel propagated by some here who say a sport must not be boring to bring in big money and viewers
:grin-square: