A New Idea that may help pool...

M

Mr. J

Jeff Jimenez
Silver Member
Thinking outside the box...
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I have had an idea for quite some time now that may help pool and its exposure...

I believe pool needs to exposed to the youth of the world. Pool needs to be taken to all the people of the world as opposed to the usual of hoping that people come to the pool hall or club or bar...etc.....

Take pool to the people...where there will be all types of people..old....young, male, female, moms and dads,,,kids hanging out with friends...shoppers and browsers of all kinds from all over and all income levels...

Imagine tournaments at your local Mall....it only takes maybe 8-12 tables to run a high level tournament...they would fit in the Malls very easily...IMAGINE THE EXPOSURE AND ALL THE FUN FOR EVERYONE!!!!...IMAGINE TOURNAMENTS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OR WORLD WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUT OR SHOPPING. Many would definately take notice and start gathering around for sure. How sweet for them to see great players dressed professionally and playing at the higher or highest levels...all for free!!! Talk about inspiration for the many different kinds of people of the world....Now think about the event is more than 1 day as usual...usually the events are tied into the weekends anyway..so this idea even makes more sence....

I BET THEY WOULD KEEP COMING AROUND FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT AND WOULD BRING FRINDS TO COME AND SEE THE CHAMPS PLAY ...CROWDS WOULD GATHER FOR SURE....

Thanks again and just imagine it....


Mr. J.
 
I like the Idea But, It's somewhat Falwed and Lacks, In My Own, Non Important Opinion.

1. Floor Space, What Kind Of tables are We Talking about? Better yet, What Size?
2. Free, Dosen't get the Bills Paid. Although There are ways around that.
3. Most Malls are indoors and Close At an Early time, 10:00Ish?

I was walking in a Huge Local Indoor Mall with Some Friends, A Group of Chicks. I thought about how many guys go to the mall with there wives and are bored out of there mind with nothing to do....
Well I saw A place, Nice room, Second story on the mall. I though about how easy it would be to get Three Eaight Footers in there with enough space for two Pub tables and some chairs, Maybe a Couch/Loveseat aswell.
It's not a bad Idea But It Lacks.
-Vinnie
 
That's a GREAT idea - with the tweak that the show should be a trick shot show combined with an exhibition match along with instructors.

There should be a traveling tour with local pool rooms and retail stores participating at each stop.

This sounds like a JOB for the BCA? Will the real BCA please stand up?

Mike Janis, you told us how much you are on the road. Wouldn't this be the perfect gig for you to couple with the Viking Tour events?

I agree, bring pool to several hundred thousand people around the coutnry and you WILL see an upsurge in participation.

But sadly, NO ONE will step up to the plate to fund this worthy endeavor. Promoters won't do it because they can't make money on it. The BCA won't do it because they they would actually have to WORK at something other than creating opinion papers telling the billiard industry what it thinks.

This is a PERFECT project to spend the BCA member's money on.

BCA - do you even read this forum to see what your customers are thinking about. Probably not when you can hire expensive PR firms to do it for you.
 
Some of the league operators and league members might consider this idea. The SouthernPark Mall in Boardman Ohio has a Jillians as part of an arcade type of place. Seems to me they might have had a tournament or two if anyone wanted to check into this idea.

A pool hall in a mall sounds like good business if it is done right.
 
Something similar has been done in the Philippines (pretty sure it was there). Busta & Efren vs. some chinese guys (I should really probably try to remember their names, seems a bit disrespectful). I've got the match on my computer. You could see people looking over maybe four stories of railings, down into the center of the mall where they were playing. Really cool.

Actually, now that I think about this, its interesting that malls aren't used for this type of thing more often. Usually tournaments or events of any kind would be held at a hotel. Why a hotel, when there are many more people walking around at the mall? A mall should be a great place to get attention for anything. They should consider that when laying them out, they could make money renting it out, and bring a lot more people to shop.

Great idea.

I think this is a great idea.
 
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Thanks for imagining with me...

Yes ...those tables would be right in the large ayleways (spelling???) right in the face of everyone and directly in the wide open for all to see. Maybe at the main big intersection that all malls have... Perhaps there are several big intersections in multiple locations??? You get the picture I am sure...this thing could easlily be spread out all over the mall...

When it is all done and the table have been taken away...just think how many new people may have been influenced....sales and interest in pool my just take off like crazy...who knows???

TAKE POOL TO THE PEOPLE....they will eat it up watching champions in awe...

Sure hope it happens someday soon...what have we got to lose???


thanks again,


Mr. J.
 
cool idea

sounds like a great idea!player sponsorship and prize funds could be provided by anchor stores such as sear or bon ton.could open a diffrent fan base to pool.
 
No one is going to fund that -forget it. You'd have to do it week after week after week all over the country before you got any results.

The UPA tried twice to bring the action to the fans. First with their "Tournament in a Mall" in Hampton VA where i estimate they drew maybe 4-5 people the whole weekend from the mall. This was one of the first UPA events where it was single elimination -race to 15.

and secondly- the Grand Central Station Fiasco. when you see it on TV, there is the half the busted-ass NYC pool community straining to watch from the free area and that was about all they drew.

I applaud these efforts but it is just amazing to me how they continue to actually underperform even my meager expectations. Real pool has just a 'Cult Following' in the US and i see no way to break-out without spending at least $20 Million.
 
I know they had a tournament in a mall in Medford, OR. I'm not sure how it turned out. I wanted to go, as it is my hometown.

If there were added monies from a core sponsor, and then someone went around and asked for $1000 from each store for a banner over each table, and $5-10K for the title sponsorship, it would be very doable.

Hook up a microphone and raised podium and get shoppers from down the way to come watch. There should be a challenge table away from the action so as not to shark the players and exhibitions every hour with the best representatives, male and female, doing trick shots and giving mini-lessons free. The rules should be posted prominently, so that the audience can figure out what should be happening.

Have door prizes giving away trips and cruises :D every couple hours, and also to the winners at the challenge tables. Have nice embroidered shirts to sell and you could also have vendors.

Get free press releases before the tournament out in the papers and local magazines, as well as the radio, listing all those sponsors, as well as a follow up with results.

I think if someone wanted to take it on and contact malls (and their associations) across the US, they could do well with it. And you're right, it would boost recognition of our sport. :)
 
Mr. J said:
Thinking outside the box...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have had an idea for quite some time now that may help pool and its exposure...

I believe pool needs to exposed to the youth of the world. Pool needs to be taken to all the people of the world as opposed to the usual of hoping that people come to the pool hall or club or bar...etc.....

Take pool to the people...where there will be all types of people..old....young, male, female, moms and dads,,,kids hanging out with friends...shoppers and browsers of all kinds from all over and all income levels...

Imagine tournaments at your local Mall....it only takes maybe 8-12 tables to run a high level tournament...they would fit in the Malls very easily...IMAGINE THE EXPOSURE AND ALL THE FUN FOR EVERYONE!!!!...IMAGINE TOURNAMENTS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY OR WORLD WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE HANGING OUT OR SHOPPING. Many would definately take notice and start gathering around for sure. How sweet for them to see great players dressed professionally and playing at the higher or highest levels...all for free!!! Talk about inspiration for the many different kinds of people of the world....Now think about the event is more than 1 day as usual...usually the events are tied into the weekends anyway..so this idea even makes more sence....

I BET THEY WOULD KEEP COMING AROUND FOR THE ENTIRE EVENT AND WOULD BRING FRINDS TO COME AND SEE THE CHAMPS PLAY ...CROWDS WOULD GATHER FOR SURE....

Thanks again and just imagine it....


Mr. J.
Click to expand...

If only if only.... I personally would be at every one of those tournaments if it was offered at my local mall, that would also provide a better environment for kids, opposed to the pool halls. Most pool halls are 21 and older right? So if they offered it in the malls, children could play as well. I like the way you think Mr. J. Why dont you expose the idea to your local mall, that would increase the costomer traffic as well. If someone comes into a mall to watch a tournament, more than likely they will shop around before hand and after. Great Thinking, I think you should go somewhere with this idea!!!!:)
 
More realities of this...

Keep in mind that I initially was looking for more exposure to pool here and to raise interest and bring in new generations of pool players.

If this idea was to happen, there would have to much Giving in the beginning and not much Getting if you know what I mean.... Things like this take some time to take effect... Over a several events and maybe a few more things might begin to click and the Machine may find a heart...

Just like many other new endeavours...you have got to get them hooked...get them hooked for cheap...get them hooked young...give the thing away for a few times....

Remember it is goona take much Giving and not much Gettin' at first....

We have tried so many things..it is time to maybe try something new...



Thanks again,


Mr. J.
 
To get them "hooked" you proably need a "dancing with the stars" type of thing. Evertime a local pro anybody is involved the place seems to be packed.

Now you need someone selling $500.00 pool tables and computerized pool for the kids.
 
Mr. J said:
If this idea was to happen, there would have to much Giving in the beginning and not much Getting if you know what I mean.... Things like this take some time to take effect... Over a several events and maybe a few more things might begin to click and the Machine may find a heart...
This is true... There arent too many people that would do that for you. You should try a sponsor, like predator or somthing, they could have their logo over everything at the event. Try calling them, you never know.:)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
This is true... There arent too many people that would do that for you. You should try a sponsor, like predator or somthing, they could have their logo over everything at the event. Try calling them, you never know.:)
Click to expand...
Seems to me that Predator would be the wrong sponsor for this kind of thing. You'd want someone like Viking or McDermott, someone who at least a few non-players have heard of. Predator makes a product for people who already love the game, not people that don't know anything about it, imho.
 
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One last thing to bring forward...

I remember when I got hooked on pool...I was young and lived in the apartment scene... The pool table was in the Cabana of the apartment complex. It we easy...easy..easy...no cost, no travel, no scheduling, just show up and have fun and enjoy...did not take me long to get hooked...that is my story. Maybe you had a table at home because of your parents or maybe you had access to a table thru friends...I will sure bet it was EASY...

Now my idea is to make it easy for alot of people to enjoy from a near prospective. Make it easy for the people. Take pool to the people. High level players at the Mall..

Let them see the champs..."These players never miss...WOW!!" "Wow, did you see that jump shot!!!" "Just like on TV!" "I can't believe I am getting to watch a PRO!!!" "This is just awsome and I want to give it a try." "He just banked it in like nothin'!!" "Another table run!! I can't believe it.!!"

Bringing an increased Awareness of the Game and how great it can be could be a very good thing. The Exposure to the many would be made Easy for them. Many people would think that they were just going to go do some shopping today and then WHAM....they get to see a Pro or High level player LIVE...surely there will be some who will be inspired and want to get involved with pool...

Make it easy for them...all they have to do is show up...


thanks again,

Mr. J.
 
Nostroke said:
No one is going to fund that -forget it. You'd have to do it week after week after week all over the country before you got any results.

I applaud these efforts but it is just amazing to me how they continue to actually underperform even my meager expectations. Real pool has just a 'Cult Following' in the US and i see no way to break-out without spending at least $20 Million.
Click to expand...


Nostroke,
Well thought out, and right on target.

My ideas for getting pool into the country clubs and high schools are in a similar vein. If the BCA isn't doing this type of thing, then they are to be scorned.

P.S. - Welcome to the cult; just don't offer to buy me a cup of Koolaid at the next tournament.
 
Mr. J said:
I remember when I got hooked on pool...I was young and lived in the apartment scene... The pool table was in the Cabana of the apartment complex. It we easy...easy..easy...no cost, no travel, no scheduling, just show up and have fun and enjoy...did not take me long to get hooked...that is my story. Maybe you had a table at home because of your parents or maybe you had access to a table thru friends...I will sure bet it was EASY...

Now my idea is to make it easy for alot of people to enjoy from a near prospective. Make it easy for the people. Take pool to the people. High level players at the Mall..

Let them see the champs..."These players never miss...WOW!!" "Wow, did you see that jump shot!!!" "Just like on TV!" "I can't believe I am getting to watch a PRO!!!" "This is just awsome and I want to give it a try." "He just banked it in like nothin'!!" "Another table run!! I can't believe it.!!"

Bringing an increased Awareness of the Game and how great it can be could be a very good thing. The Exposure to the many would be made Easy for them. Many people would think that they were just going to go do some shopping today and then WHAM....they get to see a Pro or High level player LIVE...surely there will be some who will be inspired and want to get involved with pool...

Make it easy for them...all they have to do is show up...


thanks again,

Mr. J.
Click to expand...
Mr. J, I applaud your enthusiasm, but getting "big time" players at a local mall with the cost of setting up tables and administration fees you really couldn't afford to do this for $0.00. And as for getting sponsorship dollars, think about how long we've been trying this to no avail. Ask John Schmidt how easy it is trying to find a sponsor for just one person.

I certainly don't want to rain on your parade, but, you are talking major effort here and I just don't see anyone stepping up to the plate on this one.
 
buzzsaw said:
Mr. J, I applaud your enthusiasm, but getting "big time" players at a local mall with the cost of setting up tables and administration fees you really couldn't afford to do this for $0.00. And as for getting sponsorship dollars, think about how long we've been trying this to no avail. Ask John Schmidt how easy it is trying to find a sponsor for just one person.

I certainly don't want to rain on your parade, but, you are talking major effort here and I just don't see anyone stepping up to the plate on this one.
Click to expand...

and there is absolutely nothing remotely "new" or innovative about the idea. Even if you got those tables 6 weeks in a row and managed to create "pool hysteria" in Torrington CT. Now you only have 350 more towns to conquer.

Let's see 350 X 6 weeks ==???-"Cmon Let's get those tables in the truck by tomorrow- Hartford is next-Hey Earl, where you going?" Sorry, guess i dont think much of this idea.
 
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