15 million dollar question

[wayne]

After reading all the criticism of KT (and all of the positive as well) I got to thinking what I would do if I had 15 million sitting around to invest in pool.
The question is what would you do if you had 15 million that you had to invest in a pool tour over the next 3 years? After the 3 years were up you wanted to be able to make money into the future off of your investment.

Do you start an 8 ball tour? 9ball? other? Do everything 1st class? Invest in the current tours that are around? Do give aways to hall of famers? Challenge of the sexes? Would you worry about not conflicting your play dates with other tours or would you just try to create your Ideal Scene without too much worry about stepping on toes because the Existing Scene does not warrant worrying about others?

Could you do a better job of things that KT and the IPT? If so, how so?

Wayne

 

[supergreenman]

After reading all the criticism of KT (and all of the positive as well) I got to thinking what I would do if I had 15 million sitting around to invest in pool.
The question is what would you do if you had 15 million that you had to invest in a pool tour over the next 3 years? After the 3 years were up you wanted to be able to make money into the future off of your investment.

Do you start an 8 ball tour? 9ball? other? Do everything 1st class? Invest in the current tours that are around? Do give aways to hall of famers? Challenge of the sexes? Would you worry about not conflicting your play dates with other tours or would you just try to create your Ideal Scene without too much worry about stepping on toes because the Existing Scene does not warrant worrying about others?

Could you do a better job of things that KT and the IPT? If so, how so?

Wayne

I would sponser junior pool programs similar to what the pga is doing to promote junior golf. it's silly to think that you can have a high profile professional sport for a game that most people don't learn till they are adults.

Kids these days are becoming professional video game players. sick eh? What's worse is they're actually making good money at it.

 

[ScottW]

I would sponser junior pool programs similar to what the pga is doing to promote junior golf. it's silly to think that you can have a high profile professional sport for a game that most people don't learn till they are adults.

Pool is one of those games that anyone can start to learn at any time. Granted, kids absorb things quicker than adults - but as it's not really a physical sport, IMHO, it's not as critical to get kids involved early to ensure success later.

Don't get me wrong - I think it's a fine and noble idea.

If it were me with $15mil - I think I'd spend $14mil on pool and $1mil on renting Jessica Alba for a year. *chuckle* But seriously...

I'd look at trying to start an organization that isn't just about 'the pros' and 'big money', but something that is more grass-rooty. Hire some folks around the country, regional people, to organize local/semi-local tours, with the idea that the people who do well there advance to a regional tour, and the people who do well in *those* advance to a national tour - all under one blanket organization. Move people up/down the tour tree as needed. Promote the sport on several levels at once. Use that blanket organization to secure sponsors - seeing as you'd have so many more people participating, sponsors would be (I'd think) easier to pull in - more eyeballs for them.

 

[jnav447]

Good, thought-provoking post. I'll have to admit that KT & company covered pretty much all the bases; all things considered, I don't see room for improvement in the way things were orchestrated. Even the "controversial 150" comprised a nicely egalitarian mix; if they had simply taken the top 150 points leaders, would there be as much interest and involvement in the qualifiers? I think not. While I remain an optomistic skeptic re the IPT (due strictly to KT's "colorful" history), I'm pulling for the tour to succeed and for some of the dues-paying players to finally realize financial reward for their achievements. Now, if we can just find a rich angel who's hooked on one-pocket!

 

[SlimShafty]

I'd look at trying to start an organization that isn't just about 'the pros' and 'big money', but something that is more grass-rooty. Hire some folks around the country, regional people, to organize local/semi-local tours, with the idea that the people who do well there advance to a regional tour, and the people who do well in *those* advance to a national tour - all under one blanket organization. Move people up/down the tour tree as needed. Promote the sport on several levels at once. Use that blanket organization to secure sponsors - seeing as you'd have so many more people participating, sponsors would be (I'd think) easier to pull in - more eyeballs for them.

I totally agree!
Thats the way it needs to be done, those with the best handicaps get to advance to play in say IPT opens, and larger regional events with larger payouts. That way you will eliminate some if not all sandbagging so those with the best handicap get rewarded, not unlike the USGA which you need a handicap of 1.4 to even enter the PGA US Open qualifiers.

I would love to see a system like that, that rewards the better players around the world, while creating an exciting local level tournament scene involving all players, tons of opportunities for membership and and advertising money. At the same time more players will be filling up the local rooms and really feel like they are involved and have a much greater reason to follow the larger tour.

 

[Cameron Smith]

With 15 million I wouldn't start a tour. But I would try and hold a yearly World Championship Pool tournament. In order to win you would have to show competence in all of the major pool games, 8 ball, 9 ball, 14.1, bank pool and one pocket. All matches race to 15, but you have to win by two games. If the match is 14-14, than in order to win you would have to get 16-14, 17-15, 18-16 etc. I know this isn't very practical but I don't care.

But If I were rich beyond compare I would do something fun and silly. I would start the richest tour ever created. The game wouldn't be 9 ball, 8 ball, 14.1 etc. Nope. It would be a 3 ball tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The World 3 ball championships, first prize $10 000 000.

All of the pros would be playing 3 ball because it yields the most money, and I think that would be very funny.

 

[sixpack]

After reading all the criticism of KT (and all of the positive as well) I got to thinking what I would do if I had 15 million sitting around to invest in pool.
The question is what would you do if you had 15 million that you had to invest in a pool tour over the next 3 years? After the 3 years were up you wanted to be able to make money into the future off of your investment.

Do you start an 8 ball tour? 9ball? other? Do everything 1st class? Invest in the current tours that are around? Do give aways to hall of famers? Challenge of the sexes? Would you worry about not conflicting your play dates with other tours or would you just try to create your Ideal Scene without too much worry about stepping on toes because the Existing Scene does not warrant worrying about others?

Could you do a better job of things that KT and the IPT? If so, how so?

Wayne

I was just thinking about this earlier today sorta. I was actually thinking that IF the pga tour hadn't been around/successful/etc when Tiger Woods was up and coming then Nike or somebody would have been very smart to build a world-class venue for him to perform on and capitalize on it. Nike did this to an extent by setting the bar as high as it did when it signed Tiger to a huge sponsorship deal and showed other advertisers that there was about to be a lot of money made from golf. Purses got bigger and now the pga tour is one of the best sports organizations out there IMO. And Nike has made some serious money along the way, as have all the touring pros and minor league pros.

Then I thought about Wu and Alex and some of the other great young players who have great personality and great international star power. Maybe KT isn't building the IPT for the players of today and the market of today, maybe he is thinking a step ahead and building an infrastructure to capitalize on the marketing of pool's Tiger Woods?

So to answer your question: IF I thought we were on the verge of a breakout, transcendent player (Wu?) who gave us access to a Billion fans in what will probably be the fastest growing economy in the world the next 20 years, I would probably do something very similar to what KT is doing. Start small and safe, use your own promotional budget to build a tour, get marketing and ops people in place while hosting about 5 tournaments a year in the US and establish yourself as the de facto tour that top pros want to play on.

I would market all the stars in their home countries via satellite TV and internet and then add a few international events per year until we had a 30-40 event season worldwide. Once you have Wu (or whomever) being beamed into a billion homes, you can pretty much command whatever advertising/sponsorship rates you want.

There's a lot more flesh to be filled out, but I don't want to make this post too long. Maybe we can discuss over a beer sometime (this weekend at HT?)

Cheers,
RC

 

[5ballcharlie]

Well I would have different tournaments besides 8 ball. Some would be 8 ball some would be 9ball some would be straight pool some would be 15 ball rotation some would be one pocket. At the end of the year the two best players that did the best in all the tournaments would square off in a one on one showdown. Each playing a set in each game to see who is the all around world champion. The person who wins becomes champion and will be able to defend their title next year even if they play poorly the next year.

 

[Cameron Smith]

I would market all the stars in their home countries via satellite TV and internet and then add a few international events per year until we had a 30-40 event season worldwide. Once you have Wu (or whomever) being beamed into a billion homes, you can pretty much command whatever advertising/sponsorship rates you want.

Wu is a phenomenal young talent for sure. However he would be very difficult to market to western consumers. After the initial shock over his age wears off all he has left is his game, which is not as important to the general public (ex. Minnesota Fats vs Willie Mosconi).

We need a player of great talent with charisma and an intrigueing personality. I think Alex Pagualyan is your man.

 

[wayne]

I was just thinking about this earlier today sorta. I was actually thinking that IF the pga tour hadn't been around/successful/etc when Tiger Woods was up and coming then Nike or somebody would have been very smart to build a world-class venue for him to perform on and capitalize on it. Nike did this to an extent by setting the bar as high as it did when it signed Tiger to a huge sponsorship deal and showed other advertisers that there was about to be a lot of money made from golf. Purses got bigger and now the pga tour is one of the best sports organizations out there IMO. And Nike has made some serious money along the way, as have all the touring pros and minor league pros.

Then I thought about Wu and Alex and some of the other great young players who have great personality and great international star power. Maybe KT isn't building the IPT for the players of today and the market of today, maybe he is thinking a step ahead and building an infrastructure to capitalize on the marketing of pool's Tiger Woods?

So to answer your question: IF I thought we were on the verge of a breakout, transcendent player (Wu?) who gave us access to a Billion fans in what will probably be the fastest growing economy in the world the next 20 years, I would probably do something very similar to what KT is doing. Start small and safe, use your own promotional budget to build a tour, get marketing and ops people in place while hosting about 5 tournaments a year in the US and establish yourself as the de facto tour that top pros want to play on.

I would market all the stars in their home countries via satellite TV and internet and then add a few international events per year until we had a 30-40 event season worldwide. Once you have Wu (or whomever) being beamed into a billion homes, you can pretty much command whatever advertising/sponsorship rates you want.

There's a lot more flesh to be filled out, but I don't want to make this post too long. Maybe we can discuss over a beer sometime (this weekend at HT?)

Cheers,
RC

Very interesting, I hadn't thought of what he was doing in those terms but it makes a lot of sense. It seems like KT really saw a golden opportunity and I think if he or those in his employ read your post they may even start thinking bigger than they have been.

(I would love to see some of the matches at Hardtimes this weekend but I may not be able to make it unfortunately).

Wayne

 

[sixpack]

Wu is a phenomenal young talent for sure. However he would be very difficult to market to western consumers. After the initial shock over his age wears off all he has left is his game, which is not as important to the general public (ex. Minnesota Fats vs Willie Mosconi).

We need a player of great talent with charisma and an intrigueing personality. I think Alex Pagualyan is your man.

Could be. I haven't seen either of them in person. Or it could be someone we don't know of yet.

I think a lot of marketers are looking for inroads to the Chinese economy, that's why I thought of Wu.

Cheers,
RC

 

[Chris]

I would like to see an international organization with national member organizations, which would in turn have state/province/regional members, which would in turn have local members.

At the local level, competitions could be held from which the winners could advance to compete at the regional level. Winners there could advance to the state level, and winners there could compete at nationals. Each national organization could then send their best players to compete at the world level.

Since everyone is ultimately a member of the international sanctioning organization, it makes it easier to have consistent playing rules, and also allows for an uncontested World Champion.

Starting things at the local level allows anyone to get involved and have a clear path from local competitions to world competitions. The possibility of a championship decided by an invitational tournament is completely eliminated. Anyone with skill and ambition has potential to make it all the way.

 

[wayne]

Now, if we can just find a rich angel who's hooked on one-pocket!

Sign me up! If KT had picked one-pocket (dream on) instead of 8-ball my application would have been in with all kinds of colorful tales and self-promotion in the sincere hope of being one of the 150. All the naysayers could have written anything they wanted about him and how what he was doing was dead wrong, he's a crook, a crim, he's going to take advantage of me and I wouldn't have given two hoots. I'd offer him my 2nd born and would be as happy as a pig in (sh..) dirt. I would have been as excited as some of the good players who got picked for the 8 ball and would be honing my game looking forward to some great competition, some exciting experiences and some really big paydays.

Wayne

 

[Cameron Smith]

I think a lot of marketers are looking for inroads to the Chinese economy, that's why I thought of Wu.

Cheers,
RC

Good point, I didn't think of that.

 

[Cameron Smith]

Sign me up! If KT had picked one-pocket (dream on) instead of 8-ball my application would have been in with all kinds of colorful tales and self-promotion in the sincere hope of being one of the 150. All the naysayers could have written anything they wanted about him and how what he was doing was dead wrong, he's a crook, a crim, he's going to take advantage of me and I wouldn't have given two hoots. I'd offer him my 2nd born and would be as happy as a pig in (sh..) dirt. I would have been as excited as some of the good players who got picked for the 8 ball and would be honing my game looking forward to some great competition, some exciting experiences and some really big paydays.

Wayne

He would never have picked one pocket. People have to be able to instantly recognize the game they see on tv (8 ball) or be able get the gist of it within one rack (9 ball), and one pocket is neither of that.

 

[sjm]

Thanks for all this money, Wayne. Sounds like I've got 5,000,000 a year to spend. Just for kicks, I'll spend it all on the all-new SJM pool tour. I'll have 128 tour members and a $500 entry fee per event. I'll add 3,948,000 to the prize fund, and my annual proudction and marketing budget is 1,052,000. My tour schedule is shown below. All who are interested in signing up, let me know.

 

[sixpack]

Thanks for all this money, Wayne. Sounds like I've got 5,000,000 a year to spend. Just for kicks, I'll spend it all on the all-new SJM pool tour. I'll have 128 tour members and a $500 entry fee per event. I'll add 3,948,000 to the prize fund, and my annual proudction and marketing budget is 1,052,000. My tour schedule is shown below. All who are interested in signing up, let me know.

I'm in!

RC

 

[wayne]

Thanks for all this money, Wayne. Sounds like I've got 5,000,000 a year to spend. Just for kicks, I'll spend it all on the all-new SJM pool tour. I'll have 128 tour members and a $500 entry fee per event. I'll add 3,948,000 to the prize fund, and my annual proudction and marketing budget is 1,052,000. My tour schedule is shown below. All who are interested in signing up, let me know.

I need to know your background? Have you ever been arrested? Are you planning to take advantage of us players? How are you going to pick the 128 member? (What? I don't think that's fair...oops you haven't answered yet) Do we have to sign player contracts? (Haa you are trying to get us to sign away our rights and now I will lose all of the money I am making off my name oops I'm not making money off my name). Why aren't you working with all the other pool organizations? I can see many scheduling conflicts, have you contacted all of the other organizations to get their blessings before you give away all this money??? What is going to happen to all the other tours when you fold up?

I have a 100 other questions but let me warn you I have seen this before and you are sure to fail, I saw it with Mackey and I saw it before this, it isn't all about the money you know? Why are the entry fees so high? What gives you the right to choose which games are to be played?

LOL
Wayne

 

[Godfather]

I don't see the sense in putting money into junior or grassroots programs. You help develop juniors so when they get old enough to try to support a family they make nothing? You've pretty much got to pump the dough into the professional level as some kind of incentive for juniors to even play. A friend of mine played real good at 13 or 14 and his family (his dad owns a pool room) convinced him to stop playing. They told him to look around at all the great players and notice that they had nothing. He made a smart career choice and gave up the game. This was before the IPT. I don't think I'd do much different than KT if I had the cash.

 

[a_susie_cue]

I would have 8, 9, banks and one pocket events. There would even be different skill levels at my discretion. However, I don't have an extra 5 million, so it is fun to dream.