Dress code in tournaments

boogieman said:
Just who would sponsor pool in the US? I'm being serious. List some potential sponsors.

It's mainly played in bars or pool halls. Billiards equipment and Billiards industry obviously. But who else? What demographic are pool players?

Pros dressing well will not suddenly make sponsors think it's golf players with tons of disposable income. They are not so naive to think that because players dress well there is a market.

I could see blue collar things, fast food, beer, maybe energy drinks, gambling. But who else? I mean, what exact type of market other than "regular people" does billiards have that other sports don't?

Would it do to spend advertising money if you were a hotel chain? A luxury watch company? A shoe company? A BBQ grill company? A motorcycle company? BMW? Would any of this change if the pros dressed nicer?

When Earl wore a polo, did luxury goods suddenly start advertising on ESPN? No.

Pool has no real niche demographic nor one with money, so in my opinion, unless it's just "common man" stuff or Billiards related, you'd be a fool to invest in advertisement for the sport.

Could Rolex make any money advertising in pool when most pool players are just average people?

Honestly, IMO pool doesn't have an image problem, it has a demographics problem. You'd be better off advertising to almost any group than pool players/fans.

Does professional bowling have much advertising other than bowling equipment? It's the same thing. Does cornhole? Probably not but I don't know. I'd guess they would do better advertising beer and BBQ grills rather than Luxury vehicles.

I get wanting players to look professional. It adds a layer of legitimacy. Just like you would not want to go to the doctor and see him wearing flip flops. But really, the pool demographic has no reason to be advertised to. Yes, it could potentially bring money, but what business would be foolish enough to spend advertising money on such an arbitrary group? Billiards equipment and industry. No other advertisement/sponsors make sense from a financial standpoint.
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Luxury articles may not have appeared on ESPN but I believe that the u.s open finals used to be televised live?

And I can't think of another sport that had more people participate in.How many people do you know that have never shot a game of pool?
 
skogstokig said:
we're never going to become golf. most sports won't. and i'm fine with that too.
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I absolutely agree. My golf example was only to show how much more the average golfer is willing to accept golf related expenses than the average pool player is.

I honestly don't expect pool in the US to ever even get as big as snooker is in other areas of the world. We just have too many other sports that are far more deeply ingrained in our culture.
 
I'm pro dress code, always have been. If you are a professional in the public eye, you should dress the part. I do not think it is unreasonable for professional tournaments to enforce dress pants, polo and dress shoes or non athletic dark sneakers. For those who say the players are representing the pool demographic don't get it. Pool is never going to draw corporate sponsorship if it doesn't step outside the box and draw in a different demographic. That's how golf evolved. At the end of the day, the industry should represent itself not for what it currently is, but what it wants to be. Will a dress code single handedly change that? Of course not, but it's a step in the right direction. I have 14 direct reports for my job. They have a dress code that I enforce. I do not think it is out of bounds for tournament directors to have and enforce a dress code for PROFESSIONALS. From time to time I have to hire a new team member. I'm a Gen X'er, mostly hiring kids fresh out of college or in their late 20's. It appalls me how many people show up to an interview not wearing a suit or professional attire. I work for a major US corporation with endless employment opportunities for the right candidate worldwide. I've had candidates show up in a t-shirt. I don't immediately dismiss an individual based on their attire, but it certainly plays a part in the overall decision to hire. I learned long ago there are three life events you should always wear a suit: wedding, funeral and job interview. I'm not going to get into the decline of dressing nice in our society. It's apparent when I see kids going to high school in pajamas. Professional pool players should dress professionally. IMO, shorts, athletic shoes and hats shouldn't be allowed if the industry is serious about growing.
 
jasonlaus said:
Pool is an beautiful game played by ugly broke people. Nobody is spending advertising dollars on that.
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It seems like LIveSB.io thinks it's worth spending money on pool. But I'd agree with you for the US. How much do Super Bowl halftime commercials cost now?
 
hello said:
Watching the Texas open with guys wearing short pants, SVP with a baseball cap, its no surprise to me pool has no big sponsors anymore...it looks amateurish...

Not saying suits should be worn but whats wrong with black trousers and a polo shirt like they used to?
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this is texas, thats why
its not a pagent show
 
Bob Jewett said:
It seems like LIveSB.io thinks it's worth spending money on pool. But I'd agree with you for the US. How much do Super Bowl halftime commercials cost now?
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Cost of time to run 30 seconds 2.5m+

Ad agency cost to make up?

Use big name Celebrity could be 1 Million+.

Use minor actor more money.

Use animal more money.

Last cost is production cost, cameramen, stylists, grips, trade people, permitsetc. More money.

Total cost big bucks, return on commercial? 🙏
 
There should definitely be a dress code in all big tournaments.
It looks so bad to watch these guys in shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops.
Also those silly Hawaiian t-shirt looking things they wear have to go.
That's just the very minimum class and respect participants should show the sport or no one will take this game seriously.
This shouldn't even have to be noted.
 
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