SJM is Begging You - Support Matchroom!

Bob Jewett said:

In a double elimination tournament that has lots of tables you will have back-to-back matches in the later stages. If you are in the losers' bracket you can expect to play continuously towards the end.



The alternative is to stretch out the tournament to take longer by adding breaks. I think the best the players can hope for is a 20 minute break minimum between matches. Perhaps that is stated in the player's contract.



The tentative match times for the first few rounds are shown on the on-line chart at https://cuescore.com/tournament/bracket/?id=5185877 and it is obviously roll-on-roll-off. During the first few rounds it is very easy to avoid back-to-backs. Later is it more or less impossible.



I see that they are starting at 9AM Sunday and the last match of the day is scheduled for a 9:30PM start. There will be about seven matches per table and it looks like they are estimating two hours per match.



I think the Cuescore people who are handling the scheduling are very competent and will do the best job possible given that the double-elimination part must finish in three days.

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It is brutal in a venue like that! Bathrooms very far away! Restaurants hard to get to past the casino. No outside food allowed! Then get the smack down trying to get a minute off peace!

Energy bars and hydration are critical! Hopefully, matchroom will consider having a hospitality room next to the event that would be helpful! Some bottled water and sandwiches and finger food so that breaks are short and benefits the players!


This might be the best suggestion of all! Never saw this available! Even if it cost a couple bucks! I would pay for the convenience! Not having to venture from venue and risk being forfieted or in a accident like some players in the past!

Kd

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They want to create some excitement? Have 1 TV table that provides main coverage with commentary.

Then have 4 other TV tables too, with just a single camera angle and no commentary. That should be EASY to do.

This will allow viewers to watch several matches at once!

Too many times, we're force to watch a match that we don't care about.

AtLarge said:

Actually 488, Jay. The 240 players who are out will have each lost twice = 480 matches. But 8 of the final 16 players will have lost once, so that's another 8 matches = 488.

Or, you can count the number of matches in each round:

Winners' side: 128 + 64 + 32 + 16 + 8 = 248
Losers' side: 64 + 64 + 32 + 32 + 16 + 16 + 8 + 8 = 240
Total: 488 matches, leaving 8 players undefeated and 8 with 1 loss going to single-elimination

[This assumes no forfeits.]

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Correct, thank you. I didn't take that last loser's side round into consideration.

sjm said:

Excellent point. I have seen tournament directors get this wrong on numerous occasions over the years.

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The only time this should be a problem is when playing double elimination on the final two days. Then it can be unavoidable and a good TD will allow a player time to take a break between matches if necessary. This is where stamina and conditioning can make a difference. The only time this should happen would be on the last night when playing down to the final five/six players and again the next day when concluding the tournament. Like I said, when playing double elimination it will happen, if you are still alive on the loser's side of the board that late in the action. My observation has been that often times a player who is playing back to back matches is in better stroke then one who has been sitting and waiting to play.

Joe_Jaguar said:

Well it was in a dumb location.

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Yup

Kid Dynomite said:

Matchroom needs

Americans have not had a idol that looks like them since Larry Bird.

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If you're going with white sports stars (hint not all Americans are white btw) I'll play along.
Ever hear of that Tom Brady guy?
Bad argument by you.
It's ok. It happens.

jay helfert said:

The only time this should be a problem is when playing double elimination on the final day. Then it can be unavoidable and a good TD will allow a player time to take a break between matches if necessary. This is where stamina and conditioning can make a difference.

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Some players have dietary restrictions! It would be cool to have a concierge and hospitality room nearby and a few vegan sandwiches and stuff nearby to prevent any problems and shorten the time between matches needed!

The concierge could walk around and get orders for between matches and have food and drink ready!

Plus with the smoking rules the guy's are going to go nuts wanting a cigarette between matches and food! With such a tight schedule! Something will have to give!

Kd

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

My understanding is that there is a "Players Lounge" and players are supposed to be there before their matches (especially since they have only 5 minutes to get to the table when the match is called). Probably it will be stocked with water, etc., and not far from the arena.

Kid Dynomite said:

Some players have dietary restrictions! It would be cool to have a concierge and hospitality room nearby and a few vegan sandwiches and stuff nearby to prevent any problems and shorten the time between matches needed!

The concierge could walk around and get orders for between matches and have food and drink ready!

Plus with the smoking rules the guy's are going to go nuts wanting a cigarette between matches and food! With such a tight schedule! Something will have to give!

Kd

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

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Kid Dynomite said:

It is brutal in a venue like that! Bathrooms very far away! Restaurants hard to get to past the casino. No outside food allowed! Then get the smack down trying to get a minute off peace!

Energy bars and hydration are critical! Hopefully, matchroom will consider having a hospitality room next to the event that would be helpful! Some bottled water and sandwiches and finger food so that breaks are short and benefits the players!


This might be the best suggestion of all! Never saw this available! Even if it cost a couple bucks! I would pay for the convenience! Not having to venture from venue and risk being forfieted or in a accident like some players in the past!

Kd

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

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IPT had a green room for the competitors, filled with snacks, Fiji bottled water, even a shower to refresh, right there on-site at the tournament room.

Just a heads up, everything on the strip cost money and is SUPER EXPENSIVE! Vegas has changed A LOT in 20 years. If you break wind, someone is there to collect. The moral of the story is plan ahead. If you have certain comfort foods, or drinks, or dietary needs or whatever, consider that whatever you can pack in will save you ten fold.

Hanging out at Griffs was a breath of fresh air from the strip, with their "normal" food and beer prices.

JessEm said:

Just a heads up, everything on the strip cost money and is SUPER EXPENSIVE! Vegas has changed A LOT in 20 years. If you break wind, someone is there to collect. The moral of the story is plan ahead. If you have certain comfort foods, or drinks, or dietary needs or whatever, consider that whatever you can pack in will save you ten fold.



Hanging out at Griffs was a breath of fresh air from the strip, with their "normal" food and beer prices.

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So where can i get the all u can eat $2.95 buffet?

I Got Lucky said:

So where can i get the all u can eat $2.95 buffet?

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Nowhere near the strip, I can tell you that! I think those days are long gone. Would be nice though, if a local chimed in here with some good places...

20 years ago the expensive part of Vegas was just getting here, but everything was cheap... Now, getting here is the cheap part, but you can't turn around without digging...

Two words: Internet gambling.

My only other advice is stick to Uber. A lot cheaper than taxis. Oh, and we also found the slots and blackjack odds on Fremont St to be far more favorable than on the strip. Good luck!

I won't be watching as all my attention will be on the world snooker but I hope it works out for matchroom aswell as the players who will be playing. and of course, I hope it works out the most for the viewing parties, both present at the venue or the ones watching via stream.

Hi SJM,

First, let me set the tone by pointing out I've enjoyed pool for 40+ years, would LOVE to see a resurgence in the US, and most importantly, really hope the Open is a 100% success.

OK, now a few thoughts:

ADMIN IMMUNITY: You stated that event producers are not responsible for administration and marketing. This is a false statement. Those are 2 areas that the Event Producer is 100% responsible for. Even if you farm it out, or have conflicts with the venue, you are still 100% responsible, just as any General Contractor is responsible for the subs he hires and the quality of their work.

BUILD IT THEY WILL COME: You are telling paying fans, both door tickets and virtual, that they should pay in full and pay now, even though you are not quite ready for prime time. You are asking for blind absolution for any and all SNAFUs, with the promise of being better next time.

The reality is when you run a good event, providing great coverage for all fans plus an enjoyable, well organized and managed event for players, THEN fans will come.

I'm well aware that some fellow AZers disagree with this and offer total support. However, you don't need a few dozen supporters, you need countless thousands of dedicated fans. You acquire them by providing a quality product.

CAPITAL vs INVESTMENTS: Again, you are stating that everyone should support you NOW, so you can be a "financial success" later.

The average person paying to see a sporting event - ANY event - never, ever thinks "is this Promoter going to be a success?" or "Are we helping the Promoter?"

They simply want a great event. THIS event. If it is, they will return. Unfortunately, the inverse is also true.

You are obviously undercapitalized, which is undoubtedly why you wrote this. You are asking us to place responsibility (for a bad event) on everyone EXCEPT the Event Promoter. I sincerely hope this is not an omen.

Investments may come later, but hope is not a strategy. I'd rather see your plan on how you will ensure this event is a 100% success.

FWIW, I will be there Tues-Fri. Would welcome a friendly chat.

-von

sjm said:

The days of giving away the food to get you through the door are long gone in Vegas. Mandalay Bay has a pretty reasonably priced food court, though, that includes Nathan's and Johnny Rockets, so you can eat pretty cheap there, just not for $2.95. You'll have to go off the Las Vegas strip to find a cheap buffet.

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I had a $10 bottle of water and candy bar at Mandalay Bay during mosconi a few years back.

sjm said:

I most definitely did not say that. What I said as that if the event fails, fans are inclined to chalk it up 100% to the admin and marketing efforts of the event producer. That, I went on to explain, isn't fair, because others play a role in whether an event succeeds. Obviously, the bulk of the responsibility is in the hands of Matchroom here.



Yup, that's what I'm asking for -- faith in and support of the product even though it hasn't been seen yet. Matchroom's superb track record in producing the best events in our game justifies this kind of faith, in my opinion. Proven winners deserve support, and American pool fans have a vested interest in seeing this event succeed.



That's now how I see it. If Matchroom doesn't get the support of the American fans, players, and sponsors until a few years down the road, that's a few years in which they'll shun any further investment in American pool. To me, that's a scenario we can all help to avoid.



Matchroom has consistently provided a high quality pool product when it produces an event. They already have thousands and thousands of dedicated fans from Europe and Asia for their events, but America hasn't supported them commensurately.



Yes, but some say "this event producer has an outstanding track record when it produces events, so count me in for their new event."



I suggest that you reread my post, for I said nothing of the sort. I only noted that others can and will play a role in whether this event is a success.



Yes, I'd love to meet you. Although we see this differently, you have posted with erudition and insight and I'd like to gain a greater understanding of your views. I'll be there for the last three days of the event. I'm sitting in VIP and my picture is in my AZB avatar. Hope you'll take the trouble to track me down.

All the best, Stu

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Stu, one correction here. If you have been to any of the MC's in Vegas the venue has been packed every day, some of the biggest crowds, all paying premium prices for tickets. There is a good reason that Matchroom has come back to Vegas and the Mandalay Bay with this event. They have been well supported in this country.

jay helfert said:

Stu, one correction here. If you have been to any of the MC's in Vegas the venue has been packed every day, some of the biggest crowds, all paying premium prices for tickets. There is a good reason that Matchroom has come back to Vegas and the Mandalay Bay with this event. They have been well supported in this country.

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for the sake of the prize fund and the cost of food etc, wouldn't it be better to rent a warehouse somewhere? what's the benefit of being in a casino?