2014 US Open 9-Ball Championship: 128-player field, $1,000 entry fee
- Thread starter JAM
- Start date
That is the way ALL tournaments should be. If you THINK you can WIN and have the money to try, then GO FOR IT!
Just because you DON'T have some kind of "card" saying you are sanctioned doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to try on your own dime. It just adds more money to the pot for the eventual winner.
I like your idea and I hope Barry reads this. I doubt he will have a full field if the entry fee stays at $1000 because at that rate he's going to eliminate the weaker players. I like your proposed payout and entry fee much better........
True for most tournies with not much added- you just play for the entry money but there is $50k added here no?
In theory this could work-Half the players will think they are a lock to get their money back. Still these are pool players and cash flow may be a problem. Im inclined to think they will get maybe 100 entries-just my "sense" of it.
No matter what i think-I still hope that the USO can get back to its former glory asap
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There is, but Barry's idea is only halfway decent IF the field is full.
At $1,000 an entry, it won't fill up.
Had a good day today, got a threatening e-mail from Mr. BB. He doesn't use his own name on his e-mail account for reasons you can figure out for yourself. He called me names and wanted to fight me. That's how he rolls.
I will never forget the 2012 U.S. Open where Kenny, John and I worked so hard to make it a success, in spite of being constantly belittled and ridiculed by a drunken promoter. That's why you will never see me back there again. My statements about getting paid stand as quoted. Left to his own devices I would never trust him as far as I could throw him.
Barry should pay Keith to play in his tourney. If the field doesnt fill, the vip sweaters will be huge to see the 'comeback' of 'The Earthquake' ! I havent been in years, but I would come to see that! And when Keith shows up at Q-Masters, it would be standing room only, and he will come to play for the cash!
There are some good ideas on this thread. In particular, I like comment #38 from Bieberlvr and #57 NYC cue dude. Both of these ideas have considerable merit and, in fact, could be combined and expanded upon.
That said, the real problem with this tournament may be that it might have outgrown the tournament owner/organizer/director several years ago.
I do not say this lightly. Barry B. started this event, nurtured it through infancy and proudly grew it into a prestigious event; clearly a Major on the pool tournament calender. No one can doubt the commitment, love and enthusiasm that he has devoted to it. This should never be forgotten nor should we ever discount what he has done over the lifetime of this event because of the bumps of the recent past.
However, if you read all that has been written, said and done that is publically available in respect of this event over the recent past and, in particular, the open letters, responses to criticism, press releases from the event organizer/owner it paints a picture of a well meaning individual looking for answers to problems that might have been preventable had a long term vision been in place.
Again, this tournament is the U.S. Open. It has been, and must be again, the most prestigious event on the pool tournament schedule. To reclaim its rightful place will take vision, leadership and the energy to execute.
I am a sentimentalist at heart and hope that Barry B. can accomplish this; realistically, I have my doubts but what I do not doubt is that the love and enthusiasm is still there, and always will be, I hope it is enough. .
That said, the real problem with this tournament may be that it might have outgrown the tournament owner/organizer/director several years ago.
I do not say this lightly. Barry B. started this event, nurtured it through infancy and proudly grew it into a prestigious event; clearly a Major on the pool tournament calender. No one can doubt the commitment, love and enthusiasm that he has devoted to it. This should never be forgotten nor should we ever discount what he has done over the lifetime of this event because of the bumps of the recent past.
However, if you read all that has been written, said and done that is publically available in respect of this event over the recent past and, in particular, the open letters, responses to criticism, press releases from the event organizer/owner it paints a picture of a well meaning individual looking for answers to problems that might have been preventable had a long term vision been in place.
Again, this tournament is the U.S. Open. It has been, and must be again, the most prestigious event on the pool tournament schedule. To reclaim its rightful place will take vision, leadership and the energy to execute.
I am a sentimentalist at heart and hope that Barry B. can accomplish this; realistically, I have my doubts but what I do not doubt is that the love and enthusiasm is still there, and always will be, I hope it is enough. .
I wonder what the money added will be if he gets 50-70 players?
1000 entry plus say 60 a night splitting hotel with another player. Plus say 50 a day eating food and drink. thats living lean and mean too. plus gas and tolls or even flights means we are above 2000 to maybe 2500. Getting top foreign players to play will be even more costly as you add in 1000ish for air. Now your looking at 3k. with the payouts barry lists even the usa players have to get top 10 to basically double their money and make themselves 1000 (assuming the player/stakehorse chop is 50/50 which is unlikely). 128 great players (hardly any dead money) and you gotta finish top ten to double your buy in. Wow thats just brutal.
Im trying to imagine how 128 players will get staked to spend 2000-2500 for a week. If there are truly that many in the USA who merit that investment, its gonna be a sad week for stakehorses on October 19th since 80 out of the 128 are going home busted.
1000 entry plus say 60 a night splitting hotel with another player. Plus say 50 a day eating food and drink. thats living lean and mean too. plus gas and tolls or even flights means we are above 2000 to maybe 2500. Getting top foreign players to play will be even more costly as you add in 1000ish for air. Now your looking at 3k. with the payouts barry lists even the usa players have to get top 10 to basically double their money and make themselves 1000 (assuming the player/stakehorse chop is 50/50 which is unlikely). 128 great players (hardly any dead money) and you gotta finish top ten to double your buy in. Wow thats just brutal.
Im trying to imagine how 128 players will get staked to spend 2000-2500 for a week. If there are truly that many in the USA who merit that investment, its gonna be a sad week for stakehorses on October 19th since 80 out of the 128 are going home busted.
Bye Bye, US Open hello US invitational. By cutting the field in half and charging double is going to exclude at least 400+ people from attending the event. That's 400+ people that won't be spending money on hotels, restaurants, pool vendors products and participating in pool events.
When was the last time some short stop won ? The best players will always win PERIOD! So, I really don't know why, some posters think that getting rid of these players less likely to win is a good thing. The American pool players are aging fast and their interest in pool is shifting into making money in other area of pool and there is really about 3 of them really a threat to win the US Open. Most of Europe and Asia is going to end up winning the event.
Charging more money is fine, what amount, not exactly sure. But, I do know one thing, Charging $1000 and cutting the field size in half is definitely going to turn players and spectators alike from attending. Especially, those who are traveling hundreds if not thousands of miles to attend. Also remember the economy is not that great...Oh, by the way, the check is in the Mail!
When was the last time some short stop won ? The best players will always win PERIOD! So, I really don't know why, some posters think that getting rid of these players less likely to win is a good thing. The American pool players are aging fast and their interest in pool is shifting into making money in other area of pool and there is really about 3 of them really a threat to win the US Open. Most of Europe and Asia is going to end up winning the event.
Charging more money is fine, what amount, not exactly sure. But, I do know one thing, Charging $1000 and cutting the field size in half is definitely going to turn players and spectators alike from attending. Especially, those who are traveling hundreds if not thousands of miles to attend. Also remember the economy is not that great...Oh, by the way, the check is in the Mail!
The idea that pool can aspire to use "Dead" money to fund it like poker does is pipe dream based on a logical fallacy. Poker has the sense of "anyone" having a chance to win and luck plays a large role in the game hand to hand. People watch constant TV clips of people catching their card on the river or getting dealt aces and think "hey, I can do that too!". People do not watch Johnny Archer run 7 racks, break dry, have Francisco run 8 and out to win the match, and think "hey I could do that!!!".
Unlike in poker the "dead money" in pool know full well they are dead money that have no chance or dream of winning the event. They are just there to play pool against a couple pros and then spectate for the rest of the event.
Everyone who enters the WSOP thinks they have a chance to at least cash in the event, almost all think they have a slight chance to make the final table, and they can all dream about being the bracelet winner because if they catch a very hot run of cards then in poker anything can happen. That is what drives poker forward, the fact that in the WSOP you "don't" see the same 10 faces at the final table every year, the fact that Phil Ivey and Negraneau do "not" make it to the final table and that 9/10 people at the final table winning the huge cash are "relative" unknowns is a HUGE benefit to poker and keeping the "fish" thinking they have a real chance.
Pool is WAY more of a game of skill and people know full well they are not winning the US Open.
Chasing dead money is a dead end for pool. It will not keep this sport alive and the more and more the media showcases this game the more and more Joe Public are going to realize they have no chance.
Yet, those players without a chance to win always continue to show up at numerous events.
Having a $1,000 entry ensures those players don't show up, and that the prize amounts will be much lower since the field won't get filled.
Mark Gregory and I have talked about this very subject at least 100 times, there IS a way to get a 256 player field, with more money than any US Open has ever paid out, but I'm so sick of this shit that I'm not even going to sugest how to run it.
Glen
Glen
I've seen it argued every which way. I remember standing there after the players meeting in 99 listening to Kim Davenport cry & moan about all the dead $ players saying it was embarrassing to have them in the tournament & that no wonder no one took pro pool seriously. The infamous small room where Bartram got mugged by the wall. Then the format gets changed & almost every post in this thread bemoans the entry fee & that it will keep dead $ out and only serious players in & also predicting a short field. This is what has always made me crazy about this game, no matter which way it's done, somebody's not happy, this is why no one takes pool seriously. Not a judgement, just an observation.
Why am I the Colonel? Because I always get the chicken
Why am I the Colonel? Because I always get the chicken
This isn’t a pick on Barry post.
This is a make sure loop holes are closed post
as to make signing up more attractive, so more
players will sign up.
This is a paragraph from Barry's U.S. Open announcement on the main page:
"I will also, 60 days prior, have my SunTrust U.S. Open account available for all to click on at anytime you wish and see the added money along with paid entry fees. We will be reserving slots for the World's top players until 60 days prior to the event in order to assure our fans of having the best players in the world present to showcase their skils."
*******
And this sounds fine as long as there's a way to verify that the amount of entries that
is shown as paid in the account is the same as the actual number of payed entries.
For example if the account shows 40K in paid entries that's forty paid players.
However what if there are actually 60 players in total that have paid. 60K
That's a difference of 20K, in what's actually been paid and what's in the account !
So the question comes to mind will the players be making out their entry checks
directly to the Sun Trust account name to prevent this as a possibility ?
Since the announcement says they will be reserving spots for the World's top players until 60 days prior to the event.
Also the Sun Trust U.S. Open account it says will not be set up for viewing until 60 days prior to the event.
It would then seem hard for entries from the World's top players to be able to go straight into the account
as the account wouldn't be set up yet ?
If this isn't a concern for whatever reason then it would be helpful to
state or explain that reason, to possible entrants.
PS. There was a lot of behind the scenes arm twisting at the last moment even last year to make sure the players got their money on time, if I recall.
This is a make sure loop holes are closed post
as to make signing up more attractive, so more
players will sign up.
This is a paragraph from Barry's U.S. Open announcement on the main page:
"I will also, 60 days prior, have my SunTrust U.S. Open account available for all to click on at anytime you wish and see the added money along with paid entry fees. We will be reserving slots for the World's top players until 60 days prior to the event in order to assure our fans of having the best players in the world present to showcase their skils."
*******
And this sounds fine as long as there's a way to verify that the amount of entries that
is shown as paid in the account is the same as the actual number of payed entries.
For example if the account shows 40K in paid entries that's forty paid players.
However what if there are actually 60 players in total that have paid. 60K
That's a difference of 20K, in what's actually been paid and what's in the account !
So the question comes to mind will the players be making out their entry checks
directly to the Sun Trust account name to prevent this as a possibility ?
Since the announcement says they will be reserving spots for the World's top players until 60 days prior to the event.
Also the Sun Trust U.S. Open account it says will not be set up for viewing until 60 days prior to the event.
It would then seem hard for entries from the World's top players to be able to go straight into the account
as the account wouldn't be set up yet ?
If this isn't a concern for whatever reason then it would be helpful to
state or explain that reason, to possible entrants.
PS. There was a lot of behind the scenes arm twisting at the last moment even last year to make sure the players got their money on time, if I recall.
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A 1000 won't keep them all out , also I can name many pro's that have no shot of winning so that's not just limited to the Am's
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