Fixing American Pool by forming the NBL (National Billiards League) & PBA Tour!!!

Location, location, location, LOCATION!

I will be announcing 4 locations during the NJ State 10-Ball Open Championships on Saturday the 29th at approximately 4 pm Eastern Standard Time!

I will post here afterwards (If I remember to do so tomorrow during the busy event).
To hear them announced live, tune in to my personal Facebook Page, "Ed Liddawi (Sandman)".

For those here on Instagram & Facebook, please go to the National Billiards League pages and follow us/like us to get all future updates!

https://www.instagram.com/nationalbilliardsleague/

https://www.facebook.com/NationalBilliardsLeague

THANK YOU ALL! Those already on board, those that believe and those that doubt.

WE ARE MANY. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG. WE ARE POOL.

I need everyone's support and participation if we are going to take control of our beloved game and set it in the right direction to become recognized as an organized and professional sport once and for all without crooked promoters or greedy venues that only leach off our game our players and our industry.
 
Personalized player uniform jerseys are in the equation already as they will be issued to wear during competition at each main event. All qualifier winners and top pros will literally be "uniform" as one playing entity cleaning up and refacing the overall look and perception of "pool players" as professional competitors/athletes. Extra distinguishing details will be on the uniform of the established professionals versus the standard issued jersey awarded to the 64 qualifier winners to indicate who's who.

The design and details will be revealed soon.

This weekend, a couple confirmed sanctioned locations will be announced!

Stay tuned and keep the comments coming!

Thank you ALL for your input, interest and love for the game.

So, in other words, the players will be billboards.....

I’m for a dress code, but not uniforms.

Plus, if there is nothing out West, you ain’t serious.....
 
So, in other words, the players will be billboards.....

I’m for a dress code, but not uniforms.

Plus, if there is nothing out West, you ain’t serious.....

Before any misinterpretations take place through text versus spoken tonalities, this reply is meant lightheartedly and not angrily or serious. I appreciate all who are interested at all levels. WE need to be on the same page to make things better for the big picture. NOw, let's have some "Fun"...

:shakehead: Normally, I wouldn't even dignify this post with a response BUT since I'm on my 2nd cup of coffee this morning after only sleeping 4 hours, I'm in an okay mood and ready to entertain the all assuming ones. :p Even score. Fire with fire baby. Now that we had our fun with jabs, let's talk serious.

No sir, NOT billboards. I am actually also addressing the issue of so called "sponsors" plastering players with their brand in trade for product. The players sell themselves too cheap. They need to retain their perceived value. That's not sponsorship; that's pimping. There is space on the chest for up to 3 sponsor patches IF they either paid your entry fee into the event, paid for your flight to the event or paid for your hotel stay during that particular event. You can't pay the airlines or hotel in chalk or cue sticks.

On the other note,have you ever run an event or worked with pool players before? You give them a dress code to abide by and they show up like "homeboy off the block" with a white tee-shirt, or maybe a polo shirt two sizes too large for them with obscenities or offensive images on it, ball cap turned sideways or backwards, baggy jeans falling off their ass and so forth, OR like "Bubba off the farm" with a dirty tank-top showing off their hairy arms covered in tats, ripped blue jeans and work boots. Then they say, "Oh I didn't know there was a dress code." OR "You said collared shirt. This tee shirt has a V-neck collar." I've seen and heard it all. I speak from experience not thin air or assumptions. Where did you get the info that the uniforms will have ANY form of advertising on it? Please fill me in.The ONLY thing that will be plastered all over the jerseys are the colors Red, White & Blue, the player's last name, the state and venue they qualified in (to advertise those actually involved and doing something for the cause AND to to build fan base through hometown/state pride), and an American flag since this is a National League of America. The NBL logo will be on there as well to make it official just like every major league sport out there: NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and now our very own NBL. :clapping:

As far as having something out west, ummmmm did you watch the promo videos at all?!?! I'm gathering 32 locations ALL across America 150 miles or 3 hours apart from one another to make this accessible and monetarily feasible for ALL to get involved.

Would you like to send in your entry fee now to lock up one of the 32 slots available in your area?Players will be fighting for a slot when novelty is preserved and spots are limited to qualify and get FULLY SPONSORED into a $200,000.00 event. Yes, $1000 entry, round-trip flight, 4 night hotel stay, tour card for the year AND two personalized official jersey uniforms all for a $150 stage 1 entry fee.

Where are you closer to? Northern or Southern California? I'll let the slated TD there know they're down to 31 slots now.

I have Paypal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or a personal check sent snail mail is also an option. Which do you prefer?

Thanks for motivating me first thing this morning! Coffee #2 is done. Now off to prepare and open up the doors for the NJ State 10-Ball Open Championships starting in 2 hours. Tune in online through Facebook and enjoy the FREE stream!

PS
Before you reply, please be well informed this time and don't assume anything.
Thank you my brethren in the game! :outtahere:
 
Location, location, location, LOCATION!

Announced Sat. evening on Live stream and posted on Facebook and Instagram:


"Just in case you missed the announcement in the live video, here are 4 of the 32 locations being sanctioned as official qualifying locations for the all new NBL (National Billiards League) and Professional Billiards Association Tour:

Obviously in the NorthEast: Sandcastle Billiards in Edison, New Jersey
TD: Ed Liddawi or possibly an appointed TD

South: Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas
TD: Carlos Sanchez

Midwest: Minnesota (venue TBD)
TD: Phillip Wright

West: Freezer's Ice House in Tempe, Arizona
TD: The Freezer himself, Scott Frost!!!

First qualifier is slated for January 2021 on the Sunday free of NFL events to accommodate hosting venues and busy times. Football season does wonders for many venues. Let our NBL do the same when the NFL doesn’t.

1st event qualifier format:

10-Ball (World Rules www.WPA-Pool.com)
Races to 9 on the winners’ side & 5 on the one-loss side, alternate break, rack your own

Entry Fee: $150.00

B Class, A Class & Open Level players ONLY!

Projected Total Prize Purse: $200,000.00 🤑

LIMITED TO ONLY 32 PLAYERS!!!

The 1st 32 PAID entries are in! 💵

*Entries are nonrefundable but ARE transferable.

Top Professionals are INELIGIBLE to enter any qualifiers for NBL events. Top player list TBA.

Top Pros are exempt from having to qualify into main events and may pay in or be sponsored in at the normal $1,000.00 entry fee directly into (stage 2) main events.

Qualifier Winners in FULL FIELDS OF 32 win:

1. $1,000.00 entry slot in main event in March (3-Day event Friday-Sun Location TBA)

2. Round-Trip Flights

3. Four Nights Hotel Stay

4. 2021 PBA Tour Card to bypass stage 1

5. Two personalized official uniform jerseys

6. Additional cash in pocket same day

7. Free listing for advertising and promotion

🚨Top 8 finishers win CA$H same day! 💵🚨

💰 💵 💰💵💰💵💰💵💰💵💰💵💰💵💰

💪🏼🎱👍🏼🇺🇸💪🏼🎱👍🏼🇺🇸💪🏼🎱👍🏼🇺🇸💪🏼🎱👍🏼"
 
Cool!!
...nothing about performance enhancement supplement's like legal alcohol, smoke,
toke or poke and professional table talk that the FANS WANT TO KNOW.
(some call it sharking when they don't like the conversation.) like, you're just sitting
down after a bad safety, opponent is looking over the situation, go's down on a shot, not
making any reference on what they're about to do, you lean over to one of your
confadon's and whisper over the music 'I hope there's some top on that!'.

I haven't had any coffee yet...
 
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Maybe they are on to something with no one plays or there would be more around.

We had people begging for a carom table, everyone will play, there isn't one for 200 miles. Got a table. Maybe 1 time a day 2 people would play for an hour or 2. Lots of days it would go totally unused.

If you have a group of people who want to commit to playing 3 cushion most of the time, then pony up some funds to help the pool hall out in turn for a discount on time. The tables aren't cheap, especially the one that was in our hall. New cloth, perfect heating, new balls.


More tv exposure would help. When the many sports networks cover corn hole tournaments and not billiards that should be a clear signal that whoever is at the helm has been asleep for quite some time. And I am in an even worse position as a fan of 3 cushion. Hard to play when most proprietors won't have a 3 cushion table on the premises. Stock answer from a typical owner, "Nobody plays!" Yes and no one plays because there no 3 cushion tables here. smh
 
4 more locations - bridging gaps and waters!

Four more locations signed up and have been announced this weekend:


Hawaii - Tournament Director: Kurt Kobayashi - Venue: Velvet Touch Billiards - Honolulu


Pennsylvania - Tournament Director: Jose Burgos - Venue: TBD


Alaska - Tournament Director: Max Adams - Venue: Clancy's Billiards - Anchorage


Maryland - Tournament Director: Loye Bolyard - Venue: TBD
 

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Congrats Ed,I think you are on the right track starting from the room owner side.
If you can organize room owner/operators then you are really on to something.
That is where you can leverage the combined buying power of food/beverage/supplies etc. and eventually translate it into sponsorship opportunities.
A organized group can finally fill the gap of what the Billiard Congress used to be in setting the standards for the industry.
Best of luck!
 
I've reached out to a couple NJ casinos that have acquired sports gambling licences. Keeping my fingers crossed.

This right here is exactly why you will not achieve what you ostensibly claim to be trying to..... Growing the game.

There is ONE thing, and ONE thing only that will "grow" the game.

Get more kids playing the game.

Everybody and their mother trying to market pool to people who either 1. already play seriously 2. Are adults and have not played much or 3. Have played, but are getting older and don't come out much to play any more.

See where nowhere is that marketing plan is anyone focusing on the mechanics of getting more kids to play? Because pool players are an aging demographic. If they are not replaced by younger players, they eventually die off, and pool promoters are left marketing to a smaller and smaller group of people.

And here you are talking about another event in a casino. After The Horseshoe just kicked all the kids out of being able to attend DCC.

So, people need to stop joking about "growing" the game, and just admit that they are trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip by marketing to current players.... Or actually do the work, find a place for these kids to play regularly, and figure out national events and how to get them to them.
 
No disrespect to anything being done to help Pool but....

No truer words have been spoken.

When Pool Rooms can be self supporting in a business model that works without Alcohol then kids can be there and Pool will begin to thrive once again.



This right here is exactly why you will not achieve what you ostensibly claim to be trying to..... Growing the game.

There is ONE thing, and ONE thing only that will "grow" the game.

Get more kids playing the game.

Everybody and their mother trying to market pool to people who either 1. already play seriously 2. Are adults and have not played much or 3. Have played, but are getting older and don't come out much to play any more.

See where nowhere is that marketing plan is anyone focusing on the mechanics of getting more kids to play? Because pool players are an aging demographic. If they are not replaced by younger players, they eventually die off, and pool promoters are left marketing to a smaller and smaller group of people.

And here you are talking about another event in a casino. After The Horseshoe just kicked all the kids out of being able to attend DCC.

So, people need to stop joking about "growing" the game, and just admit that they are trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip by marketing to current players.... Or actually do the work, find a place for these kids to play regularly, and figure out national events and how to get them to them.
 
I think Earl and RKC would make great co-ambassadors. Between the two of them pool would be saved. ;)
 
Congrats Ed,I think you are on the right track starting from the room owner side.
If you can organize room owner/operators then you are really on to something.
That is where you can leverage the combined buying power of food/beverage/supplies etc. and eventually translate it into sponsorship opportunities.
A organized group can finally fill the gap of what the Billiard Congress used to be in setting the standards for the industry.
Best of luck!

Thank you! You see and understand the grassroots needs and pulling together our already established separate establishments into one unified entity.
 
This right here is exactly why you will not achieve what you ostensibly claim to be trying to..... Growing the game.

There is ONE thing, and ONE thing only that will "grow" the game.

Get more kids playing the game.

Everybody and their mother trying to market pool to people who either 1. already play seriously 2. Are adults and have not played much or 3. Have played, but are getting older and don't come out much to play any more.

See where nowhere is that marketing plan is anyone focusing on the mechanics of getting more kids to play? Because pool players are an aging demographic. If they are not replaced by younger players, they eventually die off, and pool promoters are left marketing to a smaller and smaller group of people.

And here you are talking about another event in a casino. After The Horseshoe just kicked all the kids out of being able to attend DCC.

So, people need to stop joking about "growing" the game, and just admit that they are trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip by marketing to current players.... Or actually do the work, find a place for these kids to play regularly, and figure out national events and how to get them to them.


Wrong wrong wrong.... let me clarify....

Thank you for your input which I VERY MUCH AGREE with....

You must not have seen the 2 teaser videos I put out before the promo video.

NO CASINOS and NO HOTELS will be used as venues for the main events. They WILL be held in POOL ROOMS all across the country that are large enough to facilitate a 3-day 128 player event with some spectators.

The ONLY thing I would bring the casinos in on is partnering on SPORTS BETTING and money based FANTASY LEAGUES all done online to reach out globally to generate funds for our industry. There are legal requirements and limited licenses for such which the casinos are buying up for millions of dollars. If they can simply add a page on their websites for sports betting alongside the NFL, NHL, NBA etc and the NBL gets the same cut as the other pro leagues do, THAT could be MILLIONS of dollars added to our prize pools and buying power for mainstream TV & radio ads etc.


As far as the JUNIORS go, this network of 32 locations nationwide will serve as a platform to launch events and sponsor local kids into larger events with the BEF and so forth. It will be made feasible for parents to drive an hour or so to a local sanctioned location and enter their child into a stage 1 event for $50 and win sponsorship rather than the current route available of paying THOUSANDS a year for a few events here and there and NOTHING to aspire to once they turn 19 years of age.

I hope this cleared up the plan in those regards a little better.

I plan on going live on Facebook tomorrow night at 8pm EST to explain everything more thoroughly and have a Q&A session afterwards.

I hope to see you online!

Thanks again!
 
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The ONLY thing I would bring the casinos in on is partnering on SPORTS BETTING and money based FANTASY LEAGUES all done online to reach out globally to generate funds for our industry. There are legal requirements and limited licenses for such which the casinos are buying up for millions of dollars. If they can simply add a page on their websites for sports betting alongside the NFL, NHL, NBA etc and the NBL gets the same cut as the other pro leagues do, THAT could be MILLIONS of dollars added to our prize pools and buying power for mainstream TV & radio ads etc.


As far as the JUNIORS go, this network of 32 locations nationwide will serve as a platform to launch events and sponsor local kids into larger events with the BEF and so forth. It will be made feasible for parents to drive an hour or so to a local sanctioned location and enter their child into a stage 1 event for $50 and win sponsorship rather than the current route available of paying THOUSANDS a year for a few events here and there and NOTHING to aspire to once they turn 19 years of age.

I hope this cleared up the plan in those regards a little better.

I plan on going live on Facebook tomorrow night at 8pm EST to explain everything more thoroughly and have a Q&A session afterwards.

I hope to see you online!

Thanks again!

Lotta big ideas.. On the sports betting thing.. By any chance, have you spoken to Harry Platis from WA state about your plans? He is a high profile pool playing lawyer who has many more connections than most, and he's been trying to get parimutuel betting going for a number of years with no success...
 
Did you catch the broadcast?

Did you all catch the Facebook live broadcast explaining the NBL structure and mission?

Any questions?
 
I don't remember you telling anyone about it, but I haven't read every post.


Previously posted in a reply, "I plan on going live on Facebook tomorrow night at 8pm EST to explain everything more thoroughly and have a Q&A session afterwards."

:wink:
 
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