Pool is Thriving in Texas!

TwistedTexasStyle

TwistedTexasStyle

Active member
What a great two weeks for pool in Texas. The US Open in Frisco was a roaring success from the Star Spangled Banner harmonica solo of the opening ceremony to the fight from behind finish to close out the event. Followed by the Texas Open in Round Rock running simultaneously with the BadBoys Texas Bar Box Championships less than an hour away in Temple.

Frisco and Matchroom are in love. There seems to be little doubt the US Open Pool Championship will return to Texas. The Texas air conditioners did their jobs and places like Sticks and Stones, Snookers and Sharkys were happening. Stadium seating on three sides of the final table ensured everyone had a good view of the match. Many players were unaware the Texas Open was scheduled for the following week but are now planning a two week stay in Texas next year.

Between Frisco and Round Rock lies Temple. The 42 7' Diamond tables saw games playing well past 10 pm with some matches not starting before 10. It was a well run family event with promising young players coming up and old salts who can really play. It showed how healthy pool's future is in Texas. Future Cuez and Charlie's Cuez(non-smoking) are walking distance apart and Dooley's is only a couple of miles away. The BadBoys event kept pulling me away from the Texas Open it was so much fun. They have been going strong for over ten years. A little advertising could turn many of them into pro pool fans.

I really enjoyed the Texas Open. Even outside looking in I was only feet away from many of the best pool players in the world. It had some exciting side action on the BarBoxes as well. The two carom tables I never saw empty.

Matchroom should be complemented on how available the players are to the fans. They were signing everything! I got a few Texas One shot balls signed. Even Emily signed a Texas One Shot ball! I could not be more proud!
 
jtompilot said:
Skinny Bob’s is an impressive room. Mostly 9’ tables with only 2 bar boxes. That’s quite a feat when almost all the rooms in Texas and most of the country favor smaller tables.
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Skinny Bob's is a great room! They wash the balls daily and replace the cloth frequently. A couple of years ago they had the floors leveled Who new a concrete floor could drop 3" in just 9 feet? I never see stains on the tables. The table rates are cheap. The place is never empty. They offer a variety of leagues and host regular tournaments, many Fargo rated. There is always action on the two bar boxes during the TX Open. They draw the best local talent for a reason, they earn it . It is a big room too. I am sure the servers put in 5 miles a day as many laps they do an hour. Put a step counter on one and I would take the oxer!
 
TwistedTexasStyle said:
Skinny Bob's is a great room! They wash the balls daily and replace the cloth frequently. A couple of years ago they had the floors leveled Who new a concrete floor could drop 3" in just 9 feet? I never see stains on the tables. The table rates are cheap. The place is never empty. They offer a variety of leagues and host regular tournaments, many Fargo rated. There is always action on the two bar boxes during the TX Open. They draw the best local talent for a reason, they earn it . It is a big room too. I am sure the servers put in 5 miles a day as many laps they do an hour. Put a step counter on one and I would take the oxer!
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I’ve been to Skinny Bobs several times, they’re amazing. I wish Buffalo’s could learn about keeping the tables and room clean, they do have the cheap rate down pat though.
 
TwistedTexasStyle said:
Frisco and Matchroom are in love. There seems to be little doubt the US Open Pool Championship will return to Texas.
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What's your source here?

In 2025, the new WNT Florida Open took place. It was a hit and fans like me were delighted when Emily Frazer announced before the final that they would return in 2026. That meant that the contract was already in place for WNT's return to the same venue.

In contrast, in 2026, the US Open 9ball went to Frisco, TX for the first time. Just before the final, Emily Frazer announced that she would love to be back in Frisco next year for another US Open 9ball. What that means is that, despite the stated WNT desire to return, there is no contract in place at this point to return to Frisco, TX.
 
maha said:
sad day for pool when bar boxes take over the game.
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I don't see bar boxes hurting professional pool. Bar boxes are for playing 8ball for a beer with your friends. I sure don't see 9ball or 1pocket being played on bar boxes. Are only people who play on 9 foot tables true pool fans? I think the pros should advertise to the barbox crowd to broaden their support. Folks play on what is available because they love to play. I prefer to play on a 9' table but I will play on the smallest barbox if that is what is in front of me.
maha said:
sad day for pool when bar boxes take over the game.
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I don't see bar boxes taking over the game, they are just free beer dispensers.
 
sjm said:
What's your source here?

In 2025, the new WNT Florida Open took place. It was a hit and fans like me were delighted when Emily Frazer announced before the final that they would return in 2026. That meant that the contract was already in place for WNT's return to the same venue.

In contrast, in 2026, the US Open 9ball went to Frisco, TX for the first time. Just before the final, Emily Frazer announced that she would love to be back in Frisco next year for another US Open 9ball. What that means is that, despite the stated WNT desire to return, there is no contract in place at this point to return to Frisco, TX.
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You are correct! My source is the words you quoted and all the smiling faces I saw at the event.
 
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A couple of days ago, Frazer posted this on FB:

"Thank you Visit Frisco, Texas for hosting us - we most certainly will be coming back"

WNT.TV also interviewed the top events official for Frisco during the tourney. He stressed a strong desire for the city to host the event again. We'll see. Neither side has been explicit.
 
bar boxes are great for getting new players into pool. for sure. and fit in well in bars. and create league play.

however many pool rooms are replacing 9 foot tables with smaller ones even to the extent the small tables out number the large ones.

that will start to turn the smaller tables into the standard size for pool rooms possibly.

i was around when most poolrooms had one or more ten foot tables. and usually two ten foot billiard tables. now either is hard to find most anywhere close by. and if they are its only in older rooms. of course someone can find exceptions as its a big country.

so will the 9 foot table start to go the way of the ten foot to make more room for tables or to cater to 8 ball players. remains to be seen.
 
When I first moved to Houston in 2001 there were around a 100 rooms classified as pool halls not including bars. Most of these rooms had terrible equipment, terrible food and service. As the popularity of pool dipped over the next 15 years many of these rooms closed and it felt like pool was contracting. Over the last 5 years several newer more well equipped rooms opened offering better refreshments. At the moment 4 new high end rooms are going to open soon in the southeast Houston metro alone. Leagues are blowing up with the addition of the upl. I can’t remember a time when there were more well attended weekly tournaments than now across the metro. On the other side of the coin with the exception of last year the Houston open is gone. The space city open is gone and the big tyme classic is also no more. Only one room in the metro is capable of hosting a big tournament on 9 footers but none currently exist. There is the lone star tour but that is played on bar boxes and doesn’t draw a big field of national and international players. All in all Houston is doing well just nothing resembling big pro events or rooms able to groom elite talent.
 
jbart65 said:
A couple of days ago, Frazer posted this on FB:

"Thank you Visit Frisco, Texas for hosting us - we most certainly will be coming back"

WNT.TV also interviewed the top events official for Frisco during the tourney. He stressed a strong desire for the city to host the event again. We'll see. Neither side has been explicit.
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And she said in her opening speech on the final day that she hoped Frisco would have them back next year, and that Matchroom would love to come back.

Doesn't sound inked, but my money would be on a return next year.
 
mnorwood said:
When I first moved to Houston in 2001 there were around a 100 rooms classified as pool halls not including bars. Most of these rooms had terrible equipment, terrible food and service. As the popularity of pool dipped over the next 15 years many of these rooms closed and it felt like pool was contracting. Over the last 5 years several newer more well equipped rooms opened offering better refreshments. At the moment 4 new high end rooms are going to open soon in the southeast Houston metro alone. Leagues are blowing up with the addition of the upl. I can’t remember a time when there were more well attended weekly tournaments than now across the metro. On the other side of the coin with the exception of last year the Houston open is gone. The space city open is gone and the big tyme classic is also no more. Only one room in the metro is capable of hosting a big tournament on 9 footers but none currently exist. There is the lone star tour but that is played on bar boxes and doesn’t draw a big field of national and international players. All in all Houston is doing well just nothing resembling big pro events or rooms able to groom elite talent.
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The Grand, in Austin, hosts leagues all the time. They have plenty of 8 and 9 foot tables. League play is always on the 8 foot tables. I heard a room owner say he makes more money on league nights than tournament nights. He sees the money is in league play with extra seating for nonplayers to watch, eat and drink. That sounds like more 7 and 8 foot tables will be the growth area for the near future. The BadBoys' Texas Bar Table Championships in Temple, TX kept 42 7' Diamond tables going late into the night for a full week. It was a very family friendly event.

I saw zero advertising for Pro billiards. I saw no SVB, Filler or Gorst shirts for sell. Could be an untapped market? The Olympics could fuel interest in 9 foot tables with 9ball but 8 ball seems content with a smaller table. I understand Heyball is played on an 8' table as well.
 
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