I completely understand the top 8 will "win cash". But again, the main question is how much cash? Nothing in your business model guarantees the prize money amount for the top 8, or where exactly the prize money will be coming from. If it comes from local satellites and calcuttas as you say, then that prize money would be highly variable from qualifier to qualifier, location to location, even with a full 32-person qualifier field. For some qualifiers 2nd place might win you your $150 entry fee back. In other qualifiers 2nd place might win you $20. It all depends on how much money is generated prior to the qualifier.Nobody is assuming players will play to support the tour. The ONLY assumption being made is that amateurs can't win. That is COMPLETELY UNTRUE. That's already been proven false various times at the 100's of events I've hosted, devised and have been a part of over the last 10 years. Out of 32amateurs at the Stage 1 events, 8 will win cash (ALREADY BEING GENERATED) and then get a FREE shot at a $200,000 prize purse AND play another amateur in the 1st round guaranteed. At the main event, 32 amateurs advance to the winners side. Never before has that been done!
PS, If you tell yourself you cant win, YOU'RE RIGHT! That's a very poor mindset. I've actually coached players and got them to play a ball better after 1 simple 2-hour lesson. As a matter of fact, my weekly 9-ball tournament paid out the top 6 of 24 players and 4 out of 6 were bottom level players! 1st place winner, 4th, 5th & 6th. The 2nd place and 3rd place finishers were mid level players. The 3 top ranked players DID NOT WIN. My point is, the proper format allows the lesser player opportunities to win. They only have to have the proper mindset. It's been PROVEN time and time again.
Your tour hinges on full participation of these Stage 1 qualifiers by amateur players. I'm an amateur player. I would gladly participate in a qualifier if I knew ahead of time that the top 8 spots paid enough prize money that would make my $150 entry fee a decent enough gamble. If it's not a decent gamble (for example 2nd place only winning $20), then I won't participate (because I don't do lotteries). It's as simple as that.
Maybe it would help if you gave more specific and detailed examples of how you envision this prize money is generated. Maybe a satellite consisting of 24 players with a $20 entry fee. That comes to $480 total. Winner wins the $150 entry fee into the Stage 1 qualifier, pool hall gets $30 (too cheap, but neglect that for now), and the remaining $300 goes to the prize money for the qualifier. If you hold 4 of these satellites, then that comes to $1200. Assuming the qualifier divides the prize money evenly between the top 8, that comes to an average prize of $150.
If the above situation is something that you envision, then I would be willing to participate in a qualifier that pays out $1200 to the top 8. But I have a hard time believing players would choose to participate in such satellites (that pays out only the $150 fee of the winner and nothing else) over their regular weekly $20 9-ball tournaments in which they can win cash immediately for the top 4 or 6 spots.
I'm just giving you my honest feedback. I hope I'm wrong with my worries and I sincerely wish your tour is a success.
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