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

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?

I asked this same question in a different thread. They aren't interested in trucking
their Bar Boxes to Reno when Vegas is so close to where they are stored. The days
of Quality Pool Matches on "Real Men" 9 ft. tables in Reno are OVER !
 
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

This is very important. Very.

A lot of us are reading these threads, without posting.

Thanks. Good luck with everything, the tourneys, Fargo, the pool room, and most importantly your health.

(Disclaimer to all who will start screaming "nut-hugger".... I don't necessarily agree with everything Mr. Griffin says/does, but I am a fan of how he does it, much of the time. He's here communicating with us, and will take calls from anyone. And whether I agree with him or not, he is doing more than most for pool here in the US.)
 
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)
Mark, is it possible to have the US Open 8 and 10 ball on big tables around the same time as the US Open 1 pocket?
 
Because if you have it during the same week as turning stone so many big names are missing making it rather pointless
I guess the 74 players for the 10-ball and the 93 players for the 9-ball wasted their time and money participating?

I suppose someone should tell the ladies (17 for 10b and 20 for 9b) their time and money are pointless too.

And there are big names here (Shane, Billy Thorpe, Justin Bergman, Robb Saez, Skyler, Larry Nevel to name a few).

I guess we should not tell Jay Helfert his being here to provide commentary is pointless too.
 
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)
Very well said Mark.

Even though I am a "nobody" in the pool world, I also find it quite disappointing when others cannot wait to jump online and criticize. If you are going to crap all over a tournament, at least provide viable alternatives or, dare I say it...solutions?

I have run *very* small 32-player monthly tournaments at two different rooms in Maryland for only one year, and it became so frustrating I actually quit the game in September of 2013.

Why?

Because pool players can be that difficult (and some room owners are not far behind). Most are appreciative, but it is always the bad apples that stand out.

I say this because a lot of people like to criticize the major events, and I cannot even imagine what it must take to organize the larger events, successfully, on a regular basis.

There will always be naysayers, and there are people who are only too ready to cut down an event.

Setting up and running pool tournaments is a thankless job. And ironically, as soon as someone decides to stop, everyone wonders why there aren't any more tournaments!

So, come out from behind your keyboard and actually attend and *gasp* participate once in a while...spend some $$$ and help promote and support the game instead of acting as though YOU know what is broken about pool and how to fix it.

I am here at the USBTC. Granted, there will not be as many players right after the BCAPL and APA, but everyone seems to be having fun and there are many world-beaters here to enjoy.

So, before you jump on Mark, and CSI, try doing something positive for the game instead of whining about it.

Go ahead and flame me and see how much I give a sh**.
 
This is very important. Very.

A lot of us are reading these threads, without posting.

Thanks. Good luck with everything, the tourneys, Fargo, the pool room, and most importantly your health.

(Disclaimer to all who will start screaming "nut-hugger".... I don't necessarily agree with everything Mr. Griffin says/does, but I am a fan of how he does it, much of the time. He's here communicating with us, and will take calls from anyone. And whether I agree with him or not, he is doing more than most for pool here in the US.)

Very well stated. I agree 100%
 
Very well said Mark.

Even though I am a "nobody" in the pool world, I also find it quite disappointing when others cannot wait to jump online and criticize. If you are going to crap all over a tournament, at least provide viable alternatives or, dare I say it...solutions?

I have run *very* small 32-player monthly tournaments at two different rooms in Maryland for only one year, and it became so frustrating I actually quit the game in September of 2013.

Why?

Because pool players can be that difficult (and some room owners are not far behind). Most are appreciative, but it is always the bad apples that stand out.

I say this because a lot of people like to criticize the major events, and I cannot even imagine what it must take to organize the larger events, successfully, on a regular basis.

There will always be naysayers, and there are people who are only too ready to cut down an event.

Setting up and running pool tournaments is a thankless job. And ironically, as soon as someone decides to stop, everyone wonders why there aren't any more tournaments!

So, come out from behind your keyboard and actually attend and *gasp* participate once in a while...spend some $$$ and help promote and support the game instead of acting as though YOU know what is broken about pool and how to fix it.

I am here at the USBTC. Granted, there will not be as many players right after the BCAPL and APA, but everyone seems to be having fun and there are many world-beaters here to enjoy.

So, before you jump on Mark, and CSI, try doing something positive for the game instead of whining about it.

Go ahead and flame me and see how much I give a sh**.

great post green 2 u
 
Regardless of the negative comments n outlook towards this event I'm sincerely shock at how little discussion there is about the actual matches. Almost zero in the action room n besides links for the bracket there is basically no current updates or information. There has to be people watching I'm surprised no one is posting about it
 
Regardless of the negative comments n outlook towards this event I'm sincerely shock at how little discussion there is about the actual matches. Almost zero in the action room n besides links for the bracket there is basically no current updates or information. There has to be people watching I'm surprised no one is posting about it



I guess all those people that love to watch pros play on bar boxes don't post on AZ.
 
I like watching pro play on what i play on. I also like when they play on big boy tables. Look if they have a run out they usually run out on any table. If anyone watches you will see why some say bar boxes can be tough do to congestion. I have watched a few matches and I don't see them running every rack. I see quite a few safe, pushes etc. It's give and take. on 9ft they may play a safe on a shot where on 7ft they may go for it. I enjoy watching them maneuver through the congestion. I also like seeing them go for more banks instead of playing safe.
 
Justin double dipped Skylar, winning 7-6 in the second set. They played true DE. Justin won 3800, Skylar got 2200 and Billy 1600 for third. Billy is a rising star in the pool world at 19. He is a real player and I expect big things from him in the future. Kind of reminds me of Johnny at the same age.
 
Kiddie tables?

Did you say PAY to Watch GROWN MEN Play on 7 ft. Kiddie Tables ? ... No Thanks !

Funny kind of, since "grown men" play one pocket. Even immature grown men won't play one pocket on a 7' table. Maybe 9 or 10 ball is a kiddee game?
 
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