>>WATCH LIVE<< 2016 US Bar Table Championships, Aug 22-28

Johnnyt said:
As long enough people keep paying the high prices, it will never come down or be free. Johnnyt
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Most likely it will eventually be free on YOUTUBE after a little while just like previous years. You only need to pay to see it live, the people streaming the event need to earn a living and pay for the equipment some how.
 
Does Shane really need to be playing in the Turning Stone for Mosconi points though? Did he jump to a considerable lead after placing 2nd in the world 9 ball championship?

And I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have no problems with bar tables. I just wish people would stop with this crazy idea that bar tables are taking over.
 
I wonder if CSI will use marks new pool hall Griffs for 9 foot tourneys after it opens?
 
Shane Van Boening vs Roberto Gomez Jr.

Streaming Schedule for the rest of today - Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016

3:00 pm: Shane Van Boening vs Roberto Gomez Jr.
4:30 pm: Billy Thorpe vs Bergman/Woodward (Hot Seat Match!)
6:00 pm: TBD
7:30 pm: TBD

Click here to watch live!
 
I've been getting several emails daily from CSI asking (actually begging) me to buy
PPV Matches. I finally had to put them on my Spam list.

And, yes, I have Sour Grapes. The USBTC was Great when in Reno. Most who played
or were there as spectators will say the same. It is obvious that Las Vegas is a Money
Pit for CSI, but are we going to have travel there for All CSI sponsored Matches in the
future ?

CSI People, listen up ... Pool is about The Players and the Audience.

Now, chew on that for awhile.
 
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tduncan said:
I wonder if CSI will use marks new pool hall Griffs for 9 foot tourneys after it opens?
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A few months ago, I think Mark said that the US Open One-Pocket event might well be there next year. That would be on 9-footers.
 
AtLarge said:
A few months ago, I think Mark said that the US Open One-Pocket event might well be there next year. That would be on 9-footers.
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"I Rest My Case" ... yet ANOTHER Tournament goes to Vegas ... Cha-Ching, and da $$$$ jus a rollin' in.
 
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2016 US Bar Table Championships, Aug 22-28

I have read this thread and although I don't want to get into any pissing contests, people who have all of these answers and solutions have never tried to book an event at a major hotel. Believe me, if it was that easy, we would do it. It took close to a year to button up the dates and venue.

We didn't want to leave Reno, the Grand Sierra decided they wanted to raise the room rates to almost double those at the Westgate. Obviously it is cheaper for us to do events in Vegas - very little costs in transporting the tables and stuff like that.

As to the comments about the costs of moving 9' tables to Vegas. Everyone thinks I am 'making up these excuses' - I didn't. I got tired of paying $10-$20,000 for tables and lights, getting half the PPV income and putting up with too many 'prima donnas'

It is terribly unfortunate that we conflicted with Turning Stone. We try very hard to not conflict - but sometimes it is very hard with all of the constraints we have to deal with. I shouldn't let the 'comments' get to me - but it is frustrating to see what we have to go through to make an event happen - and then to listen to the complaining is like ridiculous.

CSI has always listened to the players and the comments of its all about the money' or 'everything is coming to Vegas' just aren't true. I have spent a lot of money, including booking some losers for the betterment of pool (like TAR, American Rotation, funding Fargorate and several others); lets just say it hurts my feelings when the uneducated just want to make statements - because other readers assume them to be true. Everyone is allowed to have their opinion - but give us a little credit. We don't just move dates and locations around on a whim.

It has been asked why some posters have just 'quit' posting on AZBilliards. Again my response is the attitude of some members. Especially when some of them should know better - or perhaps they just like kicking sand in my face - lol.

I like an old saying: "Work Hard in Silence, let success make the noise." It is hard for people to hear our success because we are being drowned out by the 'white noise' caused by vocal few.

Sorry for the rant - but CSI does a lot of things in pool (probably more than any other entity in US) - we are going to make mistakes. What is telling- is how we go forward. We don't plan on quitting what we are doing, and will listen to constructive criticism - but enough of the attitudes. We are not trying to cram anything down anybody's throat. We are trying to make events happen for all pool players.

What are you doing to make pool more successful???

Mark Griffin, CEO
CSI - BCAPL - USAPL - Griff's (opening soon in Vegas)

Partner: ABC League (American Rotation)
6 pocket
Diamond Billiard Products (partner)
 
GSR is not the only casino resort hotel in the Reno area, there must be half a dozen others that could handle a large tournament. Would you at least consider bringing a tournament back to the Reno area or is everything going to be in Vegas?
 
Mark Griffin said:
I have read this thread and although I don't want to get into any pissing contests, people who have all of these answers and solutions have never tried to book an event at a major hotel. Believe me, if it was that easy, we would do it. It took close to a year to button up the dates and venue.

We didn't want to leave Reno, the Grand Sierra decided they wanted to raise the room rates to almost double those at the Westgate. Obviously it is cheaper for us to do events in Vegas - very little costs in transporting the tables and stuff like that.

As to the comments about the costs of moving 9' tables to Vegas. Everyone thinks I am 'making up these excuses' - I didn't. I got tired of paying $10-$20,000 for tables and lights, getting half the PPV income and putting up with too many 'prima donnas'

It is terribly unfortunate that we conflicted with Turning Stone. We try very hard to not conflict - but sometimes it is very hard with all of the constraints we have to deal with. I shouldn't let the 'comments' get to me - but it is frustrating to see what we have to go through to make an event happen - and then to listen to the complaining is like ridiculous.

CSI has always listened to the players and the comments of its all about the money' or 'everything is coming to Vegas' just aren't true. I have spent a lot of money, including booking some losers for the betterment of pool (like TAR, American Rotation, funding Fargorate and several others); lets just say it hurts my feelings when the uneducated just want to make statements - because other readers assume them to be true. Everyone is allowed to have their opinion - but give us a little credit. We don't just move dates and locations around on a whim.

It has been asked why some posters have just 'quit' posting on AZBilliards. Again my response is the attitude of some members. Especially when some of them should know better - or perhaps they just like kicking sand in my face - lol.

I like an old saying: "Work Hard in Silence, let success make the noise." It is hard for people to hear our success because we are being drowned out by the 'white noise' caused by vocal few.

Sorry for the rant - but CSI does a lot of things in pool (probably more than any other entity in US) - we are going to make mistakes. What is telling- is how we go forward. We don't plan on quitting what we are doing, and will listen to constructive criticism - but enough of the attitudes. We are not trying to cram anything down anybody's throat. We are trying to make events happen for all pool players.

What are you doing to make pool more successful???

Mark Griffin, CEO
CSI - BCAPL - USAPL - Griff's (opening soon in Vegas)

Partner: ABC League (American Rotation)
6 pocket
Diamond Billiard Products (partner)
Click to expand...

In response, I would like to thank you for what you are doing to promote the sport and hold tournaments. Opinions in the bar box vs big tables will be just opinions and I understand many have agreed to disagree on both sides.

As for the scheduling against turning stone.
I have been to every turning stone as a spectator since 2007. Mike Zuglan has held 26 turning stone classics in 13 years. As far as I can remember there have been two TS classics a year, a summer classic (held around July/August) and a winter classic (from December to early February). Zuglan also works extremely hard with the Turning Stone casino's event center scheduling board up to a year in advance to secure the dates. He also has never stepped on a US open or Derby City Classic in 13 years.

My point of concern was that there was some really dead times for pool between derby and July to hold a tournament, almost 4 months. Why couldn't CSI have anticipated that time as their time and aim for that?

Also, Mike Zuglan is a phone call away-he answers it all the time. Was he contacted at all a year ago by CSI when the bar table championships was being planned and asked about scheduling? I always did admire your ability to communicate and come into the public forum to discuss topics, Mr. Griffin. It appears communication was dropped somewhere between CSI and Mr. Zuglan.

With all due respect, we have to stick together as a sport -players, promoters, dealers and fans alike. Without each other we have nothing. And of course, divided we all fall. This weekend the American side of the sport is divided and that is extremely unfortunate.
 
There really was not a conflict, Turning Stone has been filled for months with many on a waiting list. Sure, many would have liked to play in both events but sometimes things just do not work out in the venue booking department and if anything, Mark provided another event for the players that could not or would not play in an east coast event.

Sure Reno was a great event with tons of players from the North west to draw from, but for the rest of the country, travelling to Northern Cali is out of the question for most. Vegas was a good alternative just to keep the event alive.

He could have just let it die, but he did what he had to do.....and of course....nothing but moaning and groaning blah blah blah.

Keep on keeping on Mark.....maybe they will see the light....but after watching this for 50 ;years, I doubt it.
 
2016 US Bar Table Championships, Aug 22-28

Thank you for the nice response.

Cardigan Kid said:
In response, I would like to thank you for what you are doing to promote the sport and hold tournaments. Opinions in the bar box vs big tables will be just opinions and I understand many have agreed to disagree on both sides.

As for the scheduling against turning stone.
I have been to every turning stone as a spectator since 2007. Mike Zuglan has held 26 turning stone classics in 13 years. As far as I can remember there have been two TS classics a year, a summer classic (held around July/August) and a winter classic (from December to early February). Zuglan also works extremely hard with the Turning Stone casino's event center scheduling board up to a year in advance to secure the dates. He also has never stepped on a US open or Derby City Classic in 13 years.

My point of concern was that there was some really dead times for pool between derby and July to hold a tournament, almost 4 months. Why couldn't CSI have anticipated that time as their time and aim for that?

We had different dates and a different venue - but their upper management kept changing the deal we made with their 'sales' department. They keep throwing in 'attrition clauses' and we could have been stuck for a lot of room nights - which we would have to pay for. After 4 months of that, we had to find another location. When we started the quest for a new home, we did not know Zuglans dates but we were months apart. When we scrambled to 'fit' it in, we inadvertently ended up on his same dates. It had very little affect on him - but had a negative affect on us. The only other option was to cancel the event altogether. I was not willing to do that.

Also, Mike Zuglan is a phone call away-he answers it all the time. Was he contacted at all a year ago by CSI when the bar table championships was being planned and asked about scheduling? I always did admire your ability to communicate and come into the public forum to discuss topics, Mr. Griffin. It appears communication was dropped somewhere between CSI and Mr. Zuglan.

As mentioned above, originally the date conflict was a non issue. We were in the middle of getting ready for the Nationals- and all the changes because of introducing FargoRate. In addition, I was thrown in the hospital for 3 weeks - and then got a brainstorm to open a pool room! - so there were a lot of distractions. Sometimes doing too much is not a good thing - lol. We'll take the heat on the date confusion, but it isn't easy finding a venue for a pool tournament!

With all due respect, we have to stick together as a sport -players, promoters, dealers and fans alike. Without each other we have nothing. And of course, divided we all fall. This weekend the American side of the sport is divided and that is extremely unfortunate.
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I agree completely. I do try to communicate. And I try to be upfront and respect others - even when not agreeing. But my peave is the attitude of some of the AZ posters. Many time the only reason I respond is to keep the 'lurkers' a little more aware of the truth.

Thanks again for you time in responding.......

Mark Griffin
 
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Rockin' Robin said:
There really was not a conflict, Turning Stone has been filled for months with many on a waiting list. Sure, many would have liked to play in both events but sometimes things just do not work out in the venue booking department and if anything, Mark provided another event for the players that could not or would not play in an east coast event.
.
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You are assuming the number one American player (and others looking for Mosconi cup points) would've completely skipped this turning stone had the bar table championships not been held this weekend.

Then one could also assume they would've planned ahead and gotten a spot before the field was full instead of watching from home.
 
Mark Griffin said:
Thank you for the nice response.



I agree completely. I do try to communicate. And I try to be upfront and respect others - even when not agreeing. But my peave is the attitude of some of the AZ posters. Many time the only reason I respond is to keep the 'lurkers' a little more aware of the truth.

Thanks again for you time in responding.......

Mark Griffin
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I appreciate the detailed response, sir.
Thank you for your time in getting the details out. I understand completely about life's plate being full and having to deal with a lot of issues.

Best of luck with the tournament and your health.

- Ryan
 
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