200,000 play pool in APA

[jjinfla]

The APA points out that there are over 200,000 people who play in their league and probably about a million people who play pool every year.

At first this sounds like a lot, but the other night when I caught the end of a bowling match on TV the announcer was commenting about people who bowl and stated that there are 50 million people who participate in bowling every year. That surprised me.

If there are that many in bowling I wonder how many participate in golf, baseball, football, Nascar. Probably a heck of a lot more.

By comparison, pool is nowhere near them and that is why pool will have a tough time getting to the big time. The demographics just are not there.

Jake

 

[Ruthless]

Sport Demographics
According to the National Sporting Good Association, Cycling is the second most popular recreational activity in the United States, even without being a TV sport.

Sports Activity Participants
(millions) Growth Since 1998
1 Exercise Walking 80.8 4%
2 Cycling (Road & Mountain) 64.3 4%
3 Swimming 57.9 -1%
4 Camping Vacation/Overnight) 50.1 8%
5 Exercising with Equipment 45.2 -2%
6 Fishing 46.7 7%
7 Bowling 41.6 4%
8 Billiards/Pool 32.1 0%
9 Basketball 29.6 1%
10 Golf 27 -2%
15 Running/Jogging 22.4 -1%
18 Baseball 16.3 3%
21 Soccer 13.2 0%
26 Tennis 10.9 -3%
27 Football (Tackle) 8.7 7%
30 Ice/Figure Skating 7.7 -2%
31 Skiing (Alpine) 7.4 -4%
39 Gymnastics 5 NA
________________________________________________

Does it surprise you that only bowling was above pool in all those you mentioned?

 

[jjinfla]

I guess it all depends on how you define participants.
I was thinking of both the players and the fans when I mentioned the other sports. But now that I think about it there probably are that many players in bowling.

But the chart confuses me. It mentions millions on top and then has percentages after the sport. But now that I looked at the numbers again I see two numbers after the activity. What do they refer to?

Jake

 

[bruin70]

i don't think those comparisons can be made. it all depends on the convenience of the venue. i don't think anyone goes around driving nascar. and there just aren't that many golf courses.....like tennis. pool gets its demographic because they can put a small table anywhere,,,bars, homes, etc.

the thing is, everyone looks to these numbers as evidence that pool is becoming more popular, and i don't think it is so. people buy pool table like they do dart boards,,,for convenience. they might be loyal to the game but not the "sport". that's why the casual players only know the "black widow".

 

[Ruthless]

The second # is the % of growth since 1998. Pool has 0% in that area.

As far as fans go, there isn't enough violence to draw the crowds that football does. Football Fans are a bunch of "I would of, should of, & could of been a player except for _________________**you fill in the excuse**. You don't and won't see 25+ yr old men out on any field playing "real" tackle football for fun. That's why all the beer companies hold most of the advertising slots. Football serves a mid - low income bracket on avg. and gives most of the fans a reason to get drunk away from the wife.

Even though it is changing, Golf & Tennis serve the mid-high income bracket on avg. RE: all the higher end car and wine ads.

NASCAR: I was at every event at Daytona Speedway from the ages of 6 - 25. My Dad is a diehard race fan and has been for 40yrs. Way before NASCAR was "cool". Phillip Morris and others found that the only way they can get big advertising in the anti-movement was to pick a sport. Auto manufactueres and part companies have allways been there on a certain level. NASCAR serves the low-med income bracket on avg as well.

Pool needs a big Sponsor to take a gamble to ever reach primetime. ESPN is not a common forum for most americans, so they have served a good purpose. But you need major network & news coverage to get anywhere in this media age. It also needs to get away from being defined as the lowest end income bracket to even have a chance.

Americans love Drinking, but once women are married they seem to develop a love for Church and a hate for anything associated with a bar. Pool still has the bar stigma attached even after all these years.

Just my observations,