This was my first trip to this event, although many friends have participated in the SBX for years. I must say after having been to events like the US Open and Derby City, this was by far the worst event myself and a group of friends who went ever experienced.
The organization was atrocious. After having already paid and pre-registered you stand in line on Wednesday evening for hours in a confusing set of isles supposedly designed to make things easy, which did nothing more than complicate the matter and frustrate players.
Want to watch a Pro Player play? It'll cost you $10 per session $20 to have a VIP seat to watch a match with no commentating and no background music, so you can't event speak a word or you're potentially disrupting a player. Not to mention your marching in on loud steel football style bleachers which are oh so quiet. How about score-keeping? I think they finally put some some score counters on the Pro tables on the 3rd day. PPV, was the worst I ever seen, quality that looked 15 years old, and was down several times, not worth a penny. I live in NY, go to Turning Stone Casino and watch all the Pro players play for 4 days, sit right next to them, get autographs, pictures, with more comfortable seating than most arenas. Oh and they offer this all online for streaming as well. What will this cost you, not a nickel! The website, albeit was created and is maintained by Allen's son, isn't very mobile friendly (and who doesn't view these sites on their phones or tablets) and they did a pretty decent job posting amateur score brackets but nothing for pro matches for days.
Food, outrageous, lines that never seemed to end, Order a small sandwich, a cup a soup and a bottle of water will cost you near $20. Parking, was a joke but I guess that can be expected with such a large event. However once you park a mile away be prepared that you can't just enter any entrance to the Expo, you MUST enter the main A doorway to get your hand stamped (this is a requirement ever new day with a new stamp color) and than you can roam freely throughout the EXPO.
I did not play well, I almost couldn't wait for my match to be over so I could just take my cues back to my room and just walk around like a mindless zombie for the next 3 days looking at the endless stuff for sale. So I decided to purchase a JB Case from a vendor, only to find myself harassed and accused of stealing that very case when I strolled into the JB Case booth just 10 minutes later. The matter was cleared up and I was apologized to, but nevertheless the entire experience has left me with an awful taste in my mouth and I doubt if I or any of my friends will ever be back as the SBX.
In retrospect, I've been to trade shows before. That's what this was, a trade show that had some pool playing events at it. It by far caters to the vendors and those who attend to spend money at those vendors, period. I as a pool player for over 30 years never felt so out of place a a tournament in my life.
I applaud Allen Hopkins and all the hard work he and his organization put into this enormous event. There was a moment I didn't see Allen running around doing something the entire time; but in my opinion as a player who really loves this game, its history and want to see nothing more than it survive and prosper I can only say that this is a money making extravaganza that commercializes and demeans the sport, not promotes and prolongs it!
