i think one of the things that may be -- unwittingly -- coming to our aid is 10 ball.
really, Really good 9 ball is fun to watch, even though i hate playing it. matches are quick, and momentum swings often, frequently based on spectacular shots. i don't play for money anymore, but did as a kid, and it was the most efficient gambling game. its simplicity and excitement of watching have made it 14.1's downfall.
as for 14.1, i could -- no, i Have -- spent entire days stacked end to end watching it, and of course, playing it is even more addictive; difficult to remember to stop and eat or sleep once in a while.
10 ball at the pro level, on the other hand, has to be the dullest use of table time ever invented. it, far more than 1 hole, is like watching paint dry. half of the match is watching someone try to get a tight rack, the other half is safes. so the fact that it is becoming the "serious" tournament game of choice for the pro's is actually, i think, very good for us.
in comparison, 14.1 looks Blazing!
i think some Numbers at challenge events might be good marketing. some people just get excited about measurable achievements, whether it's Mosconi's 526, Crane's 150 & out, or Strickland on a non-psychotic day running a 6-pack. in the case of a 14.1 challenge, they would also give an immediate visual sense of what the event's about, for people who wander by and don't know what's going on.
if Steve and Charlie can figure out how to do it, i'd put up some money for a honkin' big led display at SBE next year, showing the current high run(s).