I guess we have to look at ourselves. We that compete in evey way we play. On the table off the table. Paying attention to the finer details. Assembling a runout pattern(s). I'd say most of these concepts or aquired skills that make up a great pool player falls along the lines on devotion. Are we trouble shooters?
There's not enough publicity about the sport of pool floating around. More young people haven't seen much publicity about playing pool. The younger generation of parents aren't taking their kids out to local places that have pool tables. These kids are almost of age to drink now. What is the largest percentage of this generation doing for careers? What are their hobbies? I'd have to presume history repeats itself, though it would be nearly impossible to calcuate past recessions in the pool industry.
I guess the answer for more revenue is to how diverse you can make your facility. If your 50% focus is just pool time, you may want to consider that the cashflow from that wouldn't be as successful as you think. Most Non-Alcohol pool halls with standard vending equipment (jukebox/soda/snacks) do around $175,000 to $225,000 gross a year. Not a whole lot, eh? That of course is what is reported. Most cash based business will skim the sales somewhat for the ease of not throwing up red flags to ole' uncle sam. (cause we're alowed 5 years of losses before profit)
What lies ahead for future pool rooms is rather grim. We need serious diversity, but then the persitent player could become discouraged by the environment from the diversity. I see an ever-growing increase in league play in the local hole-in-the-wall pubs with crappy valley tables. VNEA, BCA, APA are leagues that flourish here. BCA showing the most growth.
I remember the post in this thread talking about alcohol and 9ft tables? what the heck is wrong with that? That is the type of diversity I'm talking about. You need groups of friends with addictive personalities.
BCA has a big table leagues forming, and what a nice gesture to have a 9ft diamond pro coin op in your bar?
diamond, diamond, diamond.. I think diamond tables are a start to increase the popularity, but I don't think it's a complete answer to our recession. There aren't enough good players that take the time to show the less fourtunete players how to play. The best tournament I learned from were Scotch Doubles 8-ball or 9-ball cincinnati rules. We tend to get lazy with ourselves leaving for the next shot, but it becomes more important to leave your partner a shot.
Staying interested in pool is extremely difficult. It takes a special type of person to pull away from the pack of players. We see them a whole lot too.-- on T.V.
Just a note to many talented pool enthusiasts. DON'T just think you can rent a space, and throw 20 pool tables in it, and expect to make millions of dollars. Promote, Promote, Promote... YOU NEED ALCOHOL... You can make $1.00 per bottled beer Free an Clear, and $24.00 per 32oz bottle of liquor Free and Clear. Free and Clear is (NET PROFIT).. If a bottle of beer costs $0.95, and you sell it for $2.90, It costs $0.95 a bottle, plus $0.95 a bottle to replace it = $1.90. Whalla $1.00 net profit. 1,000 bottles a week = $1,000 a week Free and Clear after replensihing inventory to keep the cycle going. So, $52,000 a year profit on just bottled beer. 1,000 bottles a week could be broken down into 25 people drinking 5 bottles per day. Could you attract that many people per day? What are those 25 people doing while drinking 5 bottles? The answer is how diverse the entertainment is. What can you cram into a 6,000 sqft facility for those 25 people, and what are you going to make from that? I'm sorry to say, but you need to count on paying your bills from something that you can count on for sure! THAT IS, alcohol. Not a whole lot of false positives, unlike table time.
I'm done babbling... Good Luck Everyone..
