The best sponsor for pool?

realkingcobra said:
10) The live stage to which this world class performance and show is going to take place from is not selling pool tables, pool cues, chalk, tip tappers, jump cues....or anything else for that matter! This place, this location....has one purpose, and one purpose only, and it's NOT to have 8 pool table's rolled in and rolled out after every show!!! It's purpose is to set the stage for live performances to Joe public as to entertain them, in the hopes of gaining their support, BUT in order to do that, Joe public is going to REQUIRE watching all 8 tables at the same time, as to give Joe public a choice of which show they want to watch....in order to keep them entertained, it must START and CONCLUDE during the course of a weekend as that's their entertainment and attention span time frame!!!
And Joe Public WANTS to be able to see clearly the show they're being expected to pay for!!! Which means they REQUIRE more than 1 camera view as to NOT miss a thing in the show they paid to watch!!! AND, Joe public WANTS the option to flip from one show to another and back and forth!!! We today, DON'T have the Grand Ole Opry, Madison Square Gardens, The Wimbledon, the Brickyard 500, the place in which the world can view our PROFESSIONAL POOL PLAYERS FROM that is a significant location to OUR sport!!! THAT is another problem!!! Because the stage for live viewing has to be set up for permanent Broadcasting and continually updated as to broadcast the best shows possible to Joe Public!!!
Click to expand...
Evidently, I erred in my calculation of what your view is for this thread topic. To assert that the American Public wants pool, in any sort of legitimate sport form, is absurd. What they want is something that can be scripted, created, canned, and delivered.

Now you are talking about entertainment as an avenue, just as the "atmosphere" is created for the audience by Hollywood.

Sadly, it has already been proven that there is no audience for Televised Pool. because there is no scripted drama and result. If you want the WWE, that's what you get. You would need 20 Earl's and Shane's who would follow the script and "be" Actors.
You say this could take place from a location? That's easy. Warner Brothers, Sony, and Paramount have empty buildings that can be used as sets...if the pitch is successful. Trust me, I've worked there. They can create an entire fake pool room inside one of those buildings and the audience would believe it is a real Brick and Mortar Store.

Location? Hell, the BCA can't even show a Brick and Mortar Building for the BCA Hall of Fame!! Evidently, billiards industry people aren't interested in a Canton, Ohio or a Springfield, Massachusetts to showcase their history.
Without the formation of a legitimate body to formulate and direct pool playing for what and who would be deemed "Pro Players", any idea to create a delivery venue, is a major conflict waiting to happen. I have seen every entity for Pro Pool come into being and die in the last 40 years. Why? Because they were all influenced by pool players and their individual egos and greed. It's an Ethics problem.

Entertaining? Yes, I just spent 3 days and 29.95 paying for a tremendous internet stream from PoolActionTV from the Texas 10 Ball Open. I was a "Passive" viewer for almost 80% of the event. I got my money's worth.

Entertainment must have Drama, Comedy, Ethos and Pathos. If it doesn't exist naturally, it must be created. What you envision, is a packaged product for mass consumption...and the American Public is not hungry for it. Yet.
 
realkingcobra said:
I could go on with the rest of my plans and explaination of how to fix this sport, but somehow i get the feeling that I'd be wasting my breath. Ford, Budwiser, Honda....folks, they're ALL advertisers, NOT sponsor's! Before you'll ever see a dollar from ANY advertiser's you'll first have to answer one important question for them, and that is....how....many....viewers....do you market to? THEN, you'll need to look for international advertiser's as you'll have to build up an international audience made up of Joe Public international long before you can sell advertising, but....don't blink to fast, as Joe Public if you catch their attention....is willing to pay milliins of dollars to see the show, provided it's worth watching.....so, there's a lot more to my plans than what I've already let out of the bag!!! Remember, we haven't even gotten to the good part yet.....who's putting up the money to tie all this together and make it happen!!!
Click to expand...

Just f'in do it, we'll build you a statue, otherwise it's just jibber jabber.
Jason
 
I have a problem with how "Joe Public" is supposed to find pool interesting. If Joe Public has to pay $ 4.95 PPV, I doubt this is ever going to work. Yes, the people who pay for watching pool right now, the AZB members and a select few might want to pay. All others would not pay for that, I am pretty sure. As long as it's not on tv it is just going to stay where it is now - in a niche.

Take snooker as an example. Snooker became popular when the BBC and Eurosport started to air major events in countries outside the UK. Now Eurosport can sell certain games PPV but they do still show most of the attractive finals etc. for free. If they stopped doing that, Joe Public would watch the soap in some other channel. No way that the general public is going to pay to watch pool.

Once pool is on tv, more people watch it. The advertisers and sponsors would immediately follow.

I don't say I know it all but that is my take from what I see around me. Talking to "regular" people, who had a cue in their hand about once or twice a year at the most - when they got drunk in a bar and decided they'd have a little fun. Those people could be interested in watching pool games but if you tell them $ 4.95 for some strange tournament with strange players - they would pass.

Also I believe 8-ball would be a better start. Because most people at least have a vague idea how that is played (with all the wrong -bar- rules, but who cares). Ask 20 people in the street what 10-ball is and you're lucky if you'll find one person who ever heard of that game.
 
*IF* you could get a network to televise the 6 month "selection process" to determine who gets to be the 16 professionals to play in the PPV event you would get many more than AZB members interested enough to fork over $5 for a weekend PPV event.
 
drlouis said:
*IF* you could get a network to televise the 6 month "selection process" to determine who gets to be the 16 professionals to play in the PPV event you would get many more than AZB members interested enough to fork over $5 for a weekend PPV event.
Click to expand...

Yes, but which network would be interested in televising the "boring" selection process ONLY? Is that going to attract commercial advertisers by itself - I doubt it.

Snooker showed how to do it. If they never televised Ronnie O'Sullivan in a final, who would watch that?
 
Meucciplayer said:
I have a problem with how "Joe Public" is supposed to find pool interesting. If Joe Public has to pay $ 4.95 PPV, I doubt this is ever going to work. Yes, the people who pay for watching pool right now, the AZB members and a select few might want to pay. All others would not pay for that, I am pretty sure. As long as it's not on tv it is just going to stay where it is now - in a niche.

Take snooker as an example. Snooker became popular when the BBC and Eurosport started to air major events in countries outside the UK. Now Eurosport can sell certain games PPV but they do still show most of the attractive finals etc. for free. If they stopped doing that, Joe Public would watch the soap in some other channel. No way that the general public is going to pay to watch pool.

Once pool is on tv, more people watch it. The advertisers and sponsors would immediately follow.

I don't say I know it all but that is my take from what I see around me. Talking to "regular" people, who had a cue in their hand about once or twice a year at the most - when they got drunk in a bar and decided they'd have a little fun. Those people could be interested in watching pool games but if you tell them $ 4.95 for some strange tournament with strange players - they would pass.

Also I believe 8-ball would be a better start. Because most people at least have a vague idea how that is played (with all the wrong -bar- rules, but who cares). Ask 20 people in the street what 10-ball is and you're lucky if you'll find one person who ever heard of that game.
Click to expand...

Talking of 8-Ball...

http://dailysport.co.uk/sport/8ball-pool-moves-up-a-gear-with-unprecedented-tv-coverage/

Okay so its not the US variety, but its now on Free to air TV in the UK every Monday night, LIVE!

(for those not in the know, the Daily Sport it a really trashy UK tabloid that is generally not the most reliable source, however this particular story is true)!

It shows it can be done (and there must be more interest in US 8-Ball in the US than UK 8-Ball in the UK surely).
 
11) World class Professional rules of play for world brodcast tournaments of 10 ball. First of all, there must be a reward and penalty system that works and maintains the ballance and has teeth that can bite if this sport is going to be expected to enter the world viewing stage. So, as follows are my rules, and they're non- negotiable.

1) All 10 ball events are played against a 3 hour match time clock in which the match will be called over.

2) There are 3 ways to win with 2 exception rules. 1st, all matches are a race to 21 games, who ever reaches 21 wins first, wins the match. 2nd, who ever is ahead in games won at the time of the 3 hour match clock signalling the end of play will be called the winner, RULE exception to the time clock is if the players are active in a game, which could reault in a tie or win, the game will be continued until it's finished. If the result is a tie, then the players will play 1 extra game during the 30 minute break between rounds to determine the match winner. 3rd, if a player at any time creates a 10 game lead over his opponent, the match will be declaied a mismatch and the player with the 10 game spread will be awared the win by knockout, RULE exception, a player breaks and runs 10 or more racks and continues play until a miss, in which case the opposing player will be allowed 1 chance to equal the game run to erase the 10+ game deficit to avoid the knockout rule, failier to match the run will result in enforcing the knockout rule.

3) all events are single elimination format only as to start the event on time, and END it on time, that is IMPORTANT to the viewing public as they NEED to manage their VIEWING time as well, and NEED a broadcast time frame THEY can count on!!

4) the balls being racked will be racked using a standard triangle and WILL be racked in a set pattern for every break, failer to race the set pattern before breaking will result in a foul, in which ONE warning will be issued to remind the racker of the pending foul if repeated, afterwhich the opposing player will be awarded 1 game point as a result of the foul. All players will rack their own and winner breaks, but when racking a player will only be allowed 30 seconds to rack and accept the rack, failier to do so will result in ONE warning after which a foul will be awared to the opposing player will be awared 1 game point as a result of the foul and the player racking will be given a new 30 seconds to complete the rack.
No player will be allowed to check another players rack, but will be warned once if doing so, after which a foul will be awared to the opposing player and 1 ga9e point will be awarded. There are no special break requirements. The 1 ball will be racked on the foot spot in all games.

5) once the break has been performed legally, the players will be allowed one push out after the break for better position to commence play. After the game has started all fouls will result in ball in hand with ONE exception, each player will have ONE lifeline inwhich if declaired, will be able to push out ONCE during the play of the game, but MUST be declaired beforehand. Jump cues will not be allowed unless the player announces it's intended use first by using it during a lifeline and pushes out, then if control of the table is declined by the opposing player, the player may THEN use the jump cue.

6) any unsportsmanlike conduct by either player will first reault in a warning, afterwhich a player will be penalized by the opposing player being awarded 1 game point. 2 unsportsmanlike penalty point awarded to an opposing player will result in being expelled from the tournament and any monies the player would have recieved will be donated to a charity of my choice. Players will also be required to dress Professionally for their participation in the tournament.
 
Meucciplayer said:
I have a problem with how "Joe Public" is supposed to find pool interesting. If Joe Public has to pay $ 4.95 PPV, I doubt this is ever going to work. Yes, the people who pay for watching pool right now, the AZB members and a select few might want to pay. All others would not pay for that, I am pretty sure. As long as it's not on tv it is just going to stay where it is now - in a niche.

Take snooker as an example. Snooker became popular when the BBC and Eurosport started to air major events in countries outside the UK. Now Eurosport can sell certain games PPV but they do still show most of the attractive finals etc. for free. If they stopped doing that, Joe Public would watch the soap in some other channel. No way that the general public is going to pay to watch pool.

Once pool is on tv, more people watch it. The advertisers and sponsors would immediately follow.

I don't say I know it all but that is my take from what I see around me. Talking to "regular" people, who had a cue in their hand about once or twice a year at the most - when they got drunk in a bar and decided they'd have a little fun. Those people could be interested in watching pool games but if you tell them $ 4.95 for some strange tournament with strange players - they would pass.

Also I believe 8-ball would be a better start. Because most people at least have a vague idea how that is played (with all the wrong -bar- rules, but who cares). Ask 20 people in the street what 10-ball is and you're lucky if you'll find one person who ever heard of that game.
Click to expand...
Haven't you heard, people are watching on their phones, ipads, and laptops today more than ever because they're watching TV less and less today!
 
cajunfats said:
Evidently, I erred in my calculation of what your view is for this thread topic. To assert that the American Public wants pool, in any sort of legitimate sport form, is absurd. What they want is something that can be scripted, created, canned, and delivered.

Now you are talking about entertainment as an avenue, just as the "atmosphere" is created for the audience by Hollywood.

Sadly, it has already been proven that there is no audience for Televised Pool. because there is no scripted drama and result. If you want the WWE, that's what you get. You would need 20 Earl's and Shane's who would follow the script and "be" Actors.
You say this could take place from a location? That's easy. Warner Brothers, Sony, and Paramount have empty buildings that can be used as sets...if the pitch is successful. Trust me, I've worked there. They can create an entire fake pool room inside one of those buildings and the audience would believe it is a real Brick and Mortar Store.

Location? Hell, the BCA can't even show a Brick and Mortar Building for the BCA Hall of Fame!! Evidently, billiards industry people aren't interested in a Canton, Ohio or a Springfield, Massachusetts to showcase their history.
Without the formation of a legitimate body to formulate and direct pool playing for what and who would be deemed "Pro Players", any idea to create a delivery venue, is a major conflict waiting to happen. I have seen every entity for Pro Pool come into being and die in the last 40 years. Why? Because they were all influenced by pool players and their individual egos and greed. It's an Ethics problem.

Entertaining? Yes, I just spent 3 days and 29.95 paying for a tremendous internet stream from PoolActionTV from the Texas 10 Ball Open. I was a "Passive" viewer for almost 80% of the event. I got my money's worth.

Entertainment must have Drama, Comedy, Ethos and Pathos. If it doesn't exist naturally, it must be created. What you envision, is a packaged product for mass consumption...and the American Public is not hungry for it. Yet.
Click to expand...

Again, who said anything about televised pool? Main stream today is on you cell phone, your Ipad, your laptop....only a fool would pursue trying to get POOL on TV!
 
realkingcobra6095211 said:
Haven't you heard, people are watching on their phones, ipads, and laptops today more than ever because they're watching TV less and less today!
Click to expand...

Yep, but what are they watching? 5min max Youtube clips and the like. Maybe some soap opera or the news.

Who is watching a Hollywood movie let alone a 3 hour match on a phone? You can't even see which ball is being shot on such a screen.

An IPad would be tough, a laptop sort of works. But those are old-fashioned, too.
 
You people are something i swear, why should i even take the time to explain where the guaranteed prize money is coming from or where the stage is going to be, and i swear most of you must no understand what international means, so I'll explain it....it MEANS out of the United States....the REST of the world, hell in deciding the top 16 players to play....may only include ONE frigging American....SVB....against 15 OTHER international players!!!
 
Forget explaining this any further, it's a waste of my time but i will say this, as an end result, who ever win the first true world 10 ball championship will be declaired the raining world 10 ball champion, and in being declairled so, will then be required to defend his title quarterly as all quarterly PROFESSIONAL 10 ball events areused to decide the mandatory number one contender to play the world champion for the title. And between world mandatory title defenses the reigning world champion may decide to put his title up against any playernof his choosing, provided that player comes with with enough reason to make it worth while to risk losing his title, in the event he loses his title, the new world champion once again has to defend his title against all future number 1 contenders quarterly!!!
 
Pool lacks personality

Pool, to me, lacks a personality. Across the entire breadth of disciplines pool offers, the game does not have its own personality in the same manners as golf, bowling or darts.

I am a firm believer that the main issue with watching (or playing) today's version of 9 Ball compared to 9 Ball years ago is the "drama factor". There is no drama anymore when it comes to alternate break 9 Ball, the game most frequently played in my area. A player today, when faced with a shot he thinks he has a 70% (or less) chance of making will play a safe. His percentage of execution is higher with the safe play. Everybody knows what's coming...a safety. No drama. Sure, it takes many hours of practice to be able to shoot safe with high accuracy. But why would the general public (not dedicated pool players) pay the money to see an event when it equates to watching paint dry. Take the safety play out of the game, make the players go for the out, create some drama and eventually the personality of our beloved game would resurface. And the personality of the pool player would surface as well. It would get to the point that people would want to know who these players are because the personality of the player would be leading the sport...not the game leading the sport. Did people tune in to watch Keith McCready play 9 Ball, or did they tune in to just watch 9 Ball? They tuned in because Keith was an entertainer and had more personality than all the pros playing today, combined. All other sports we watch, enjoy and talk about around the water cooler at work are personality-based sports.

I know I'm going to get chewed up for suggesting that safeties be taken out of the game. Think...a 9 Ball ring game. No safety play. No reason to play safe. The ball isn't coming back to you if the next shooter misses anyway, You either got it done, or you lost. That's a game that has personality. And that game personality creates a lot of drama. Ever watch about 6 Pros playing a ring game? Always a crowd around that table.

On a side note, having gone to the Mosconi Cup for the first time this past December, I got to say that the only drama created there was because of the short races. The Mosconi would be a much more fun event to watch if players had to play shape to get out, rather than play shape for a two-way decision. They are the best players in the world. Some people can practice a lifetime and never run a table, but that same person can play a lock up safe with consistent results. I want to watch players do what I cannot. That's the angle that creates the drama. That's the angle that will grow this game. It has to change from within.

Be well.
 
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