Derby City Classic, 2027, Jan. 22-31, Fri-Sun

Your observation is a good one, I would be willing to bet Diamond has a Deal with Cesars to get some of the Room & Food Revenue. So it is win win for Diamond.

For year people have been complaining about the venue, food availability, price of restaurants. But until Pool Player & Spectators do not come, business will be as usual.

Never had to decide to go to DCC after it moved out of Lexington KY. Lexington has restaurants & lodging close to DCC location, but that was how it was before moving to middle of nowhere
When was it in Lexington?
 
Been to so many tournaments probably hundreds. Played in so many tournaments, I got to tell you I really enjoy sitting at home watching them on my giant screen TV. Streaming is the best.
 
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Biggest issue with the derby is the payouts. And those are only an issue because none of the rebuy money goes to the prize pool. That money is redistributed to the master of the table which only can truly be won by 5-6 guys(at the top) and another 5-6 guys maybe for the 2-3rd money. Getting into the top 80 or so(top 15-20%) of any event should at least double your money but it doesn't even sniff that when I've done it and that's criminal.

And yeah the food "options" haha
 
that gets the big guys to show up and of course the little guys get little or nothing anyway. they are there to just pay to play in it, and usually don't expect to win anything so they get what they want.

not fair, or course not fair. so if smart go but dont donate. play someone on the side for that money where you can have the best of the bet.
and double or even much more your money by only beating one person.
 
Whether you're staying there or not, you may want to eat at the Gordon Ramsay Steakhouse at Caesar's, the one solid restaurant in a hotel where the food choices are not very good. Getting reservations there can be quite difficult and you must move quickly to get them. Some of the Derby dates are now bookable using the Open Table app. If you want a reservation, I wouldn't wait at all as you may find yourself unable to get a reservation there later on.
Expect to pay something over $100 for dinner at Gordon Ramsay''s. The menu is available on-line here:


I can recommend the Exchange Pub, about the closest good restaurant in New Albany -- a 15-minute drive. Steak and fries is $32, fish and chips is $18.

I think any serious player needs to go to Derby City at least once. There are ways to make it less expensive. It really helps to have a car.
 
Expect to pay something over $100 for dinner at Gordon Ramsay''s. The menu is available on-line here:


I can recommend the Exchange Pub, about the closest good restaurant in New Albany -- a 15-minute drive. Steak and fries is $32, fish and chips is $18.

I think any serious player needs to go to Derby City at least once. There are ways to make it less expensive. It really helps to have a car.
Don't forget Bella Roma, Bob, the excellent Italian restaurant in which you and I dined once in New Albany. Very reasonably priced and the food is excellent.
 
Expect to pay something over $100 for dinner at Gordon Ramsay''s. The menu is available on-line here:


I can recommend the Exchange Pub, about the closest good restaurant in New Albany -- a 15-minute drive. Steak and fries is $32, fish and chips is $18.

I think any serious player needs to go to Derby City at least once. There are ways to make it less expensive. It really helps to have a car.
My son and I went for the first time last year. We stayed in New Albany and rented a car.
I guess it was a blizzard but with my standards it was just a little snow that caused us no problems.

SJM always takes care of us when we meet him at the events that I get to travel to.
Yes the food options were weak as Gordon Ramsay's had closed due to the weather conditions.

We had a blast and I watched nearly every minute of the Bigfoot tourney, ringside.
I am not a big card player but the three of us won money at the card tables every time we played.
Although I did not play last year I brought my gear and did try Ray Hansen's One pocket challenge.
I do not think I will be there this year as I have a trip planned during that time, but I will be there again.

For myself it was well worth the effort and anytime I get a chance to spend time with Stu is a plus.
 
My son and I went for the first time last year. We stayed in New Albany and rented a car.
I guess it was a blizzard but with my standards it was just a little snow that caused us no problems.

SJM always takes care of us when we meet him at the events that I get to travel to.
Yes the food options were weak as Gordon Ramsay's had closed due to the weather conditions.

We had a blast and I watched nearly every minute of the Bigfoot tourney, ringside.
I am not a big card player but the three of us won money at the card tables every time we played.
Although I did not play last year I brought my gear and did try Ray Hansen's One pocket challenge.
I do not think I will be there this year as I have a trip planned during that time, but I will be there again.

For myself it was well worth the effort and anytime I get a chance to spend time with Stu is a plus.
You'll be missed, my friend, but I'll do whatever it takes to have a grand old time without you. There are many who prefer to stay in New Albany. Plenty of good food there and just eight miles away from the Derby.
 
Biggest issue with the derby is the payouts. And those are only an issue because none of the rebuy money goes to the prize pool. That money is redistributed to the master of the table which only can truly be won by 5-6 guys(at the top) and another 5-6 guys maybe for the 2-3rd money. Getting into the top 80 or so(top 15-20%) of any event should at least double your money but it doesn't even sniff that when I've done it and that's criminal.

And yeah the food "options" haha
Yeah, payouts could be a little better for sure, but they did increase last year, with winners getting $20,000 in each division.

To be fair, the event is not set up to give the amateurs/semi-pros a good chance to make a profit. Many of the ones I know don't even exercise the buy back. If you enter and buy back in each of the three core events, your participation expense, assuming you have a roommate is about $1,500 and it's awfully difficult to cash for that amount, probably requiring a top ten finish in at least one event. Of course, the nearly elite players can make decent scores in the action room if they have the pedigree and know how to match up, and that keeps many of them coming year after year.

Of course, yours is the story of pro pool today in general. Except at the majors, only a few have much profit to show for their efforts after expenses. Not that many who go to the Derby expect to make a profit. The thrill for a lot of entrants is the chance to play against some of the true stars of pro pool. Many who don't play pool for a living would like to try their hand against a Filler, Gorst, SVB, or some other well-known pro, but only a few ever get the chance. At the Derby, win a few matches and there's a good chance you'll draw one or more of them at some point.

For most who play in the Derby City Classic, it's a vacation, not a money-making venture.
 
Expect to pay something over $100 for dinner at Gordon Ramsay''s. The menu is available on-line here:
I am not a big fancy food guy. Looking at the Gordon Ramsey Steak House Prices, I will pass.

If I want a GREAT Steak in will buy a Choice cut at the AF Commissary, and the fixing to go with. Don't need to spend $100.00 or more for a good meal.

I like ethnic food like Italian, Thai, Filipino, Mexican , and Chinese. We got all sort of local holes in wall restaurant that serve top great ethnic food, for way cheaper than Ramsey's.

Who do you need to impress by by say proudly I dined at Ramsey’s, when you complain about the price of Pool Chalk
 
everyone has to decide for themselves what they can afford or want to spend their money on.
100 dollar dinner or five times at mcdonalds.

all trips away from home are relatively expensive, you have to bite the bullet and decide if its right for you.

if lots of close by options are not available then it makes a trip compromising at best. and bad weather and being stranded in a dump doesn't help.

but the lure of the derby brings people in where ever it is held
 
everyone has to decide for themselves what they can afford or want to spend their money on.
100 dollar dinner or five times at mcdonalds.

all trips away from home are relatively expensive, you have to bite the bullet and decide if its right for you.

if lots of close by options are not available then it makes a trip compromising at best. and bad weather and being stranded in a dump doesn't help.

but the lure of the derby brings people in where ever it is held


I would think a Major City could host DCC in a major hotel with ball room.

Current location is like they have captive audience.

I can thing of 20 Cities capable of have event that are close to airports, restaurants, fast food, and not in middle of nowhere place.
 
What no,one liked my,suggestion to have the DCC in Billings Mt ? There's the nearly world famous Blue's BBQ close by that serves up some of the best BBQ you could ever ask for , the Athenian Restaurant is down town close to the Northern Hotel just to name a few .

With various fast food places close by and if I were there and staying in the 5th wheel I make a darn good Breakfast Burrito if you're one of the few that I'd invite over for breakfast ha ha !

Like Cocobolo my good friend said I'm not a person who needs a fancy meal to be happy I enjoy good food !

If anyone's wondering I'm messing with the majority of you on here ha ha !
 
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are there any scheduling conflicts? would be nice to see filler trying for the one pocket banner

You have the Matchroom Gran Prix Spain event that finishes that Wednesday. One day turnaround to get back to Louisville in winter. Then there is a Eurotour event scheduled for the 29-31.

Then you got a TBA on the WPA calendar. So who knows WTF that will be.

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You had the attendance issue last year and many pros spoke out on it. SVB said the payouts were bad and Chohan went off. Then you had Filler going off on the BS scheduling issues.
 
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Here is a take that some might not agree with, but I feel is accurate. DCC was never meant to be a straight pro tournament. It was meant to be an open tournament that a lot of the pros show up to. And the people talking about the payouts or the schedule have been at DCC for years and years and know what to expect. DCC is what it is. It isn't matchroom and never will be. If people don't like the payouts or the schedule that much, they don't have to show up. DCC will fill the spots. There is always a waitlist. That just opens the door for other players to get the titles.
 
Well bottom line is Diamond Billiard Company has some sort of long term agreement with Cesar's in Indiana, so the Venus will not be moved.

Pool Players will continue to come, rooms will be booked full, tournament spots will be full. So as bad as the River Boat in Indiana is don't seen anything changing.

So enjoy Cesars in Indiana.
 
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