How Many Fans On Average?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Does anyone know about how many fans are at the average WPBA matches? Also from what I'm reading on their website, it looks like they only have 6 or 7 tournaments again for 2008. I believe they do everything in their power to get more tour dates. It makes me really wonder if they can't do it, maybe pool is just not wachable for the mainstream...both mens and womens tournaments. Johnnyt
 
J

JAM

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am not sure about the WPBA matches, as I have never been to one.

For other high-profile events, like U.S. Open, as an example, there are a couple hundred spectators, mainly consisting of players, friends of players, and a few locals. Even though people like us die-hard pool fans enjoy these events to the utmost, it doesn't seem to attract mainstream America as much as, say, an Orioles game at Camden Yards would.

I wonder what the audiences were like when Minnesota Fats and Willie Mosconi used to have those challenge matches. They were televised, which means that pool, at least during this era, did have a little bit of popularity. This would be a good question for me to ask Allen Hopkins next time I see him. He was there and would know the answer.

I have heard some pool enthusiasts complain about the gate fees at some tournaments, thinking they were too high. The recent autograph brouhaha on this forum seems to illustrate that the majority of pool enthusiasts believe players should sign autographs for free at all events. Yet, some of these same pool enthusiasts complain about paying the gate fee.

The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour event at the Turning Stone Casino is free admission. I have never seen a player turn down an autograph at Turning Stone. Even with free admission, the amount of spectators in the audience is not as high as one would hope for, maybe a couple hundred tops at any given time. This is an excellent venue for seeing pool at its finest. Yet, the free admission doesn't seem to be a good enough draw to warrant a packed house.

Independently promoted annual events are in the decline in 2007. With Glass City Open shutting its doors, the BCA pro event moving away from Vegas, it is a sign of the times.

I wish I knew what the answer would be to bring in more interest by way of attendance at pool tournaments. If the caliber of play ain't doing it, then a new concept for tournaments seems to be the answer. Would naked ladies do it? :D

JAM
 
ragbug74

ragbug74

Next NYTimes Best-Seller!
Silver Member
I've attended the WPBA event in Michigan City, Indiana each of the (3) years it has been held there. I believe Peg mentioned that it is the smallest venue they play in on the tour. It's a small room that probably only seats between 300 and 400 people, at most. The Saturday evening session, as well as the ESPN taping of the semi's and finals on Sunday usually sell out. The Saturday afternoon session is usually pretty full. I'm not sure about the Thrusday/Friday sessions as I've never attended on these days.
 
Tim5000

Tim5000

*************
Silver Member
I've attended the full week WPBA sessions. It's pretty empty in the days leading up to the finals. Pretty much a big empty room with a few players watching other players. Then on the weekend the ESPN filming starts and for the semi-finals and finals you might have about 250 people in the stands. But a lot of those spectators are other players that have been eliminated & some of the player's friends & family.
 
Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Thank you all. I don't know the answer either. I don't think there is one. As far as naked girls, I'm about at the stage of ...if I catcth one...now what? :( Johnnyt
 
F

Fragged

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Johnnyt said:
Does anyone know about how many fans are at the average WPBA matches? Also from what I'm reading on their website, it looks like they only have 6 or 7 tournaments again for 2008. I believe they do everything in their power to get more tour dates. It makes me really wonder if they can't do it, maybe pool is just not wachable for the mainstream...both mens and womens tournaments. Johnnyt
Click to expand...

....Where do you see 6 or 7 tournies?

...All i see is a RFP for someone to put on the events becuase that Peg lady quit. Seems awful late to be putting out an RFP for 2008 events. What if they dont get a decent answer? What if no one likes the job? Peg was a workaholic- I wonder why she decided to pack it in?
 
J

JAM

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Fragged said:
....Where do you see 6 or 7 tournies?

...All i see is a RFP for someone to put on the events becuase that Peg lady quit. Seems awful late to be putting out an RFP for 2008 events. What if they dont get a decent answer? What if no one likes the job? Peg was a workaholic- I wonder why she decided to pack it in?
Click to expand...

Wow, that is some news. I know she has been a main fixture for high-profile pool events for many years. Many people really appreciate her efforts.

Though I believe she truly will be missed, she definitely was not on my birthday cake list!

JAM
 
I

ironman

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
JAM said:
I am not sure about the WPBA matches, as I have never been to one.

For other high-profile events, like U.S. Open, as an example, there are a couple hundred spectators, mainly consisting of players, friends of players, and a few locals. Even though people like us die-hard pool fans enjoy these events to the utmost, it doesn't seem to attract mainstream America as much as, say, an Orioles game at Camden Yards would.

I wonder what the audiences were like when Minnesota Fats and Willie Mosconi used to have those challenge matches. They were televised, which means that pool, at least during this era, did have a little bit of popularity. This would be a good question for me to ask Allen Hopkins next time I see him. He was there and would know the answer.

I have heard some pool enthusiasts complain about the gate fees at some tournaments, thinking they were too high. The recent autograph brouhaha on this forum seems to illustrate that the majority of pool enthusiasts believe players should sign autographs for free at all events. Yet, some of these same pool enthusiasts complain about paying the gate fee.

The Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour event at the Turning Stone Casino is free admission. I have never seen a player turn down an autograph at Turning Stone. Even with free admission, the amount of spectators in the audience is not as high as one would hope for, maybe a couple hundred tops at any given time. This is an excellent venue for seeing pool at its finest. Yet, the free admission doesn't seem to be a good enough draw to warrant a packed house.

Independently promoted annual events are in the decline in 2007. With Glass City Open shutting its doors, the BCA pro event moving away from Vegas, it is a sign of the times.

I wish I knew what the answer would be to bring in more interest by way of attendance at pool tournaments. If the caliber of play ain't doing it, then a new concept for tournaments seems to be the answer. Would naked ladies do it? :D

JAM
Click to expand...

I surely don't understand all the complaining about gate fees. I went to see No Country for Old Men the other night and paid $8.00 to see it. We went to a Spurs game and paid for that. Baseball isn't free just as NFL Football isn't free either. Also, my daughter was in a school play and I paid $5.00 to see that. It costs money to put these things on. Where should it be made up?

In this part of the country also, we can't get any coverage on the events from any local papers, TV, or radio. They have little to no intrest whatsoever and really won't even discuss it.

A local TV station went so far here to tell me that they wanted no involvment or connection with the games image.

With these attitudes, it is really hard to get a fan base by simply handing out fliers or with an add in a billiard related magazine because nobody really reads those either. Just look at the paultry circulation numbers of any of the mags. Thses numbers shocked me to no end.

Maybe in each area if promoters could get a crew of fans to write to local TV stations and to newpapers, maybe, just maybe we could get a change of attitude or at least some attention.

It seems to me, that it would be a place to start.
 
A

av84fun

Banned
Tim5000 said:
I've attended the full week WPBA sessions. It's pretty empty in the days leading up to the finals. Pretty much a big empty room with a few players watching other players. Then on the weekend the ESPN filming starts and for the semi-finals and finals you might have about 250 people in the stands. But a lot of those spectators are other players that have been eliminated & some of the player's friends & family.
Click to expand...

I go to a LOT of them and think Tim's numbers are about right.
 
Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
Fragged said:
....Where do you see 6 or 7 tournies?

...All i see is a RFP for someone to put on the events becuase that Peg lady quit. Seems awful late to be putting out an RFP for 2008 events. What if they dont get a decent answer? What if no one likes the job? Peg was a workaholic- I wonder why she decided to pack it in?
Click to expand...

I'm reading between the lines. I believe if they had more than last year it would already be on the site to welcome the new venue(s) Johnnyt
 
frankwhite

frankwhite

www.superiorbilliardtech.
Silver Member
Tim5000 said:
I've attended the full week WPBA sessions. It's pretty empty in the days leading up to the finals. Pretty much a big empty room with a few players watching other players. Then on the weekend the ESPN filming starts and for the semi-finals and finals you might have about 250 people in the stands. But a lot of those spectators are other players that have been eliminated & some of the player's friends & family.
Click to expand...


Just as in the 14.1 this year at the Hilton in New Jersey. There was a echo in the room when someone whispered. On the weekend, yeaa, it filled up a little but nothing close to standing room only.
Frankie
 
J

juggler314

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
frankwhite said:
Just as in the 14.1 this year at the Hilton in New Jersey. There was a echo in the room when someone whispered. On the weekend, yeaa, it filled up a little but nothing close to standing room only.
Frankie
Click to expand...

No one ever promotes these things well, I know in the NY tri state area, local "big" events are never promoted to the local league players, it would take all of a few minutes talking and perhaps paying for costs of materials to stuff flyers for these sorts of things in all the APA/BCA/TAP weekly league packets...not to mention practically every member of all these local leagues/pool halls is on some local pool oriented e-mail list...

That being said I'd gladly go to any WPBA event within reasonable driving distance. I think the closest they've ever gotten is rhode island...not exactly comfortable driving distance.
 
uwate

uwate

daydreaming about pool
Silver Member
At the Fla Tour finale, Angel Paglia was creating new fans for the WPBA. Man is she smoking hot and she ruuuunnnnnsss OUT. At least two other pool players I know said the same thing...Wow is that girl hot and man she runs out! At least for us, a hot gal is even hotter when she can run racks. I guess thats the sign of a true pool player, when you think someone is even more attractive bc they run out.
 
frankwhite

frankwhite

www.superiorbilliardtech.
Silver Member
juggler314 said:
No one ever promotes these things well, I know in the NY tri state area, local "big" events are never promoted to the local league players, it would take all of a few minutes talking and perhaps paying for costs of materials to stuff flyers for these sorts of things in all the APA/BCA/TAP weekly league packets...not to mention practically every member of all these local leagues/pool halls is on some local pool oriented e-mail list...

That being said I'd gladly go to any WPBA event within reasonable driving distance. I think the closest they've ever gotten is rhode island...not exactly comfortable driving distance.
Click to expand...

I agree w/ you 100%...................I just can't understand w/ all the league play around our area why there is not a raise in railbirds, so to speek. lol
I mean thee leagues have people playing that just LOVE pool, even more then me!!! I don't know, and for the life of me can't figure it out.
Thanx,
Frankie
 
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