2006 Joss Tour

[doitforthegame]

My how things have changed. Checking the 2006 Joss Tour, there isn't one event in Mass or NH. Keep in mind the Joss Tour was created from the crumbs of the All About Pool Tour. Once upon a time there was an open event at least twice a month. I know what happened to my room, but where is Country Club? Scooters, World Class and on and on....I haven't picked up a cue in over a year. Does anyone actually play this game any more? I noticed the fields have been a little short on the Joss tour....Bob

 

[cueball1950]

My how things have changed. Checking the 2006 Joss Tour, there isn't one event in Mass or NH. Keep in mind the Joss Tour was created from the crumbs of the All About Pool Tour. Once upon a time there was an open event at least twice a month. I know what happened to my room, but where is Country Club? Scooters, World Class and on and on....I haven't picked up a cue in over a year. Does anyone actually play this game any more? I noticed the fields have been a little short on the Joss tour....Bob

well Bob. Mike can't have tournaments if the rooms won't have them. alot of rooms are in a little financial trouble from what i hear over that new no smoking bill. i know Mark Ransom from Renaissance told me a while back at the last joss event at turning stone that it had hurt his business terrible and that is why he was selling out. One can only surmise that the others are having the same problems. So maybe that would be the answer.......mike

 

[Jude Rosenstock]

well Bob. Mike can't have tournaments if the rooms won't have them. alot of rooms are in a little financial trouble from what i hear over that new no smoking bill. i know Mark Ransom from Renaissance told me a while back at the last joss event at turning stone that it had hurt his business terrible and that is why he was selling out. One can only surmise that the others are having the same problems. So maybe that would be the answer.......mike

You couldn't be more right. Mike is (was) a poolroom owner and also made constant complaints about a loss of business from the smoking law. Rhode Island just went non-smoking this past winter. Do you really think most of these guys are gonna wanna go to Providence in the middle of January when they can't smoke indoors? That field will surely be cut 25% AT LEAST.

 

[catscradle]

well Bob. Mike can't have tournaments if the rooms won't have them. alot of rooms are in a little financial trouble from what i hear over that new no smoking bill. i know Mark Ransom from Renaissance told me a while back at the last joss event at turning stone that it had hurt his business terrible and that is why he was selling out. One can only surmise that the others are having the same problems. So maybe that would be the answer.......mike

The smoking ban is a red herring. Pool in the northeast (maybe elsewhere too) outside barrooms is in trouble and would be with or without a smoking ban. IMO Renaissance was in trouble long before the smoking ban went into effect. Dwindling number of players, poor management, very high rates and drink prices, I don't know what it was, but I don't believe for a minute that the smoking ban did in Renaissance. Even before the ban the crowds at the Joss events were very thin and frankly Renaissance had a pretty poor layout for watching anyway. The guy who bought it evidently feels the smoking ban is not a problem. Up this way the places that make it are semi-nightclubs which happen to have pool tables. Dedicated rooms for the most part aren't going to make it.
BTW, there is a room less than 3 miles from me in NH, but I drive 20 minutes to MA so I can play without being irritated by smoke. Philosophically I'm against smoking bans, but it sure is nice to be able to breath.

 

[Koop]

IMO Renaissance was in trouble long before the smoking ban went into effect. Dwindling number of players, poor management, very high rates and drink prices

Hey Steve,

I couldn't agree more. We were just talking last night how ridiculous it is to spend upwards of $8 on a mixed drink. I could see if you are hanging out in Fanueil Hall but not in Quincy at a poolhall.
The smoking ban is basically a load of crap for an excuse. Look around the corner at the two nightclubs and there is no shortage of business.

JMO,
Koop

 

[doitforthegame]

Hey Steve,

I couldn't agree more. We were just talking last night how ridiculous it is to spend upwards of $8 on a mixed drink. I could see if you are hanging out in Fanueil Hall but not in Quincy at a poolhall.
The smoking ban is basically a load of crap for an excuse. Look around the corner at the two nightclubs and there is no shortage of business.

JMO,
Koop

Koop, I owned Pockets Billiards in Bradford, Ma. I used to hold an open tournament every January. Swear to god, receipts after the smoking ban were down 40%. I have a spreadsheet with my table time, and I just might post it to prove my point. BUT, I absolutly agree that something else was happening to pool in the northeast. Even before the ban business was off, just a little. It PLUNGED immediatly after the ban. For it or against it, it doesn't matter; the fact is poolrooms lost SIGNIFICANT business after the smoking ban. That is just a fact.
Bob

 

[Koop]

Koop, I owned Pockets Billiards in Bradford, Ma. I used to hold an open tournament every January. Swear to god, receipts after the smoking ban were down 40%. I have a spreadsheet with my table time, and I just might post it to prove my point. BUT, I absolutly agree that something else was happening to pool in the northeast. Even before the ban business was off, just a little. It PLUNGED immediatly after the ban. For it or against it, it doesn't matter; the fact is poolrooms lost SIGNIFICANT business after the smoking ban. That is just a fact.
Bob

Hey Bob,

I stand corrected. Sorry to hear about your business, and even moreso for what appears to be an epidemic around here.

Regards,
Koop