Reno IS a great event.
I think that any potential sponsors considering billiards in the US have done their research and realize that the market cap is about 4.
This is the reason they would rather advertise elsewhere.
If the Reno event were televised live in the US any potential sponsor would be foolish to believe that there would be more than 4 non-pool players tuned in coast to coast.
Look, I love pool as much as anyone here, but the fact is that the 50 posters responsible for about 80 percent of the posts on AZ or RSB probably represent most of the games public marketability.
Sadly, after those 50 potential customers, there isn't much of a market for this game anymore.
That is the way advertisers feel and they are not far wrong.
Outside of this room, Pool is dead or dying.
Find me a US pool room that can survive on pool alone? I know there are a few scattered around but they are quite rare today.
I wish it were not the case but my/our great enjoyment/passion for playing pool isn't shared by many in the year 2007.
Horse racing has gone the same way in Michigan. Hazel Park used to routinely seat 10 to 14 thousand fans in the seats in the 70's almost every day. Now the same track seats about 250 people if they are lucky. Another fact-most of those 250 spectators that come out were alive in the 70's. There are very few young people in the stands at all.
Same thing at the pool rooms in Detroit. Most of the regulars were alive in the 70's as far as I can tell.
There aren't many good players or even enthusiastic players under 25 years old-thats for sure.
Most of the younger patrons in the room are there for social reasons not competitive ones.
I suspect it's the same for the majority of league play as well.
Eddie