This just in...
An interesting AzBilliards Blog just posted last night at about 11 p.m., ET: "The ABP and the State of Pool"
An interesting AzBilliards Blog just posted last night at about 11 p.m., ET: "The ABP and the State of Pool"
ABP vs. Berry -- Oh?
- Thread starter UGETTHE6
- Start date
You know it is a funny game we play it in solitude one player against another. Everyone has won and everyone has lost. Everyone has given and taken a beating. Everyone has had an issue at one point or another. It is not a situation that fosters a community like team play. It is no wonder there is so much infighting even as to the direction to take or who is going to represent that direction.
I understand the ABPs issue but do not take down the most prestigious 9 ball event to get that message across. Perhaps the ABP's mission needs to focus on fostering growing the sport rather than protecting the players. If the sport is vibrant the money will come.
I understand the ABPs issue but do not take down the most prestigious 9 ball event to get that message across. Perhaps the ABP's mission needs to focus on fostering growing the sport rather than protecting the players. If the sport is vibrant the money will come.
Thanks for the link.
So basically most of the world-reknowned pros are involved, according to that website.
Depressing, if they do indeed boycott.
Nevertheless, I will still go to the Open this year, and every year as time and money allow.
I love the Open, and Q-Masters after dark.
I'm a fan, and my support will reflected by my attendance, my purchase of pool paraphernalia, my purchase of videos and equipment, and my participation in tournaments...regardless of the feuding.
Responce.
Yeah, my responce to this is:
Promoters have the responsibility of finding sponsors. They need to keep working harder and find the sponsors that exist in other sports. Here’s the problem:
Pool tournaments in this country are being ran by amateurs. Every single event in the US isn't run with a grain of professionalism as a MBL, NBA, or NFL game is. That is the problem in pool, which is why no major sponsor wants to sponsor events. Everything is being run by amateurs, all of these people are players or involved in the game for a life time, and think they can run an event. No. It takes a real business person and a professional event planner and massive marketing firms to put together a world class event.
People thought they had that in Galveston, but it just wasn’t even the camera work for the live stream table wasn't fit for a regional event. It was terrible.
Pool needs a media company to step in and take hold of professional events, hire a tournament director to run the event, and have a consultant from Diamond Tables help with the layout of the tables, but leave the rest to a professional event planning and marketing organization.
Also each event should have an additional 50-75K allotted to have ESPN record the event, something we must pay for. Then eventually if the viewership is high enough maybe for ONCE we will have a viable product worth selling to the American people and fans. Thus selling commercials ect… Otherwise we have nothing, so since we have nothing who is being hurt? The players. That is why I support the players efforts and feel they should be given their money on time with no question. These guys travel around the country and world playing, many of them cannot afford to have money tied up for an extended period of time.
Without professional people running these alleged professional events, there will never be a major sponsor in pool
Yeah, my responce to this is:
Promoters have the responsibility of finding sponsors. They need to keep working harder and find the sponsors that exist in other sports. Here’s the problem:
Pool tournaments in this country are being ran by amateurs. Every single event in the US isn't run with a grain of professionalism as a MBL, NBA, or NFL game is. That is the problem in pool, which is why no major sponsor wants to sponsor events. Everything is being run by amateurs, all of these people are players or involved in the game for a life time, and think they can run an event. No. It takes a real business person and a professional event planner and massive marketing firms to put together a world class event.
People thought they had that in Galveston, but it just wasn’t even the camera work for the live stream table wasn't fit for a regional event. It was terrible.
Pool needs a media company to step in and take hold of professional events, hire a tournament director to run the event, and have a consultant from Diamond Tables help with the layout of the tables, but leave the rest to a professional event planning and marketing organization.
Also each event should have an additional 50-75K allotted to have ESPN record the event, something we must pay for. Then eventually if the viewership is high enough maybe for ONCE we will have a viable product worth selling to the American people and fans. Thus selling commercials ect… Otherwise we have nothing, so since we have nothing who is being hurt? The players. That is why I support the players efforts and feel they should be given their money on time with no question. These guys travel around the country and world playing, many of them cannot afford to have money tied up for an extended period of time.
Without professional people running these alleged professional events, there will never be a major sponsor in pool
Barry Behrman, et al., already does this, i.e., Accu-Stats/Pat Fleming, Jay Helfert/Scott the Shot, Greg Sullivan/Diamond Tables, et cetera. :smile:
ETA: Below is a picture of Barry Behrman and Scott the Shot speaking with ESPN Radio, trying to provide a little advertising for the tournament. They were live on site at the Chesapeake Conference Center, offering incentives of free T-shirts.
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Oh? Maybe Accu-stats, I would consider professional. Becuase Pat is a great guy and with the new cameras he will be second to none. And Greg at Diamond. But who is doing the marketing? Who is doing the event planning? Barry. Again the important parts being ran my a mere amateur.
You need professional marketers to showcase the product that can be sold to the public and the fans, this is not being done. As far as the tournament directors and MC's I am sure I can find a much more professional replacement. Guarnateed.
How can you not like Scott Smith?! I've always enjoyed his commentary when he announces the players.
I've got quite a few pics of Scott and came across this one as they were working on the chart of the U.S. Open. I like Scott! :smile:
You can see Wade Crane in the background. RIP, Wade!
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BULL SHIIIIT! In the boldest font there is. And anyway, everyone who cashed got paid at the event. Not in full, but they sure didn't leave empty-handed, as you infer has happened.
That is coz being a pool player doesn't pay well.
Take a peek at the past winner's list- none of those guys needed to cash to make it home.
Yes! More money spent! That is what is needed.
The players will appreciate it...could even get better if there is a marketing fee added to each entry.
Wrong agian.
You mean to tell me that if the payments were delayed then international palyers would show up pay an entry fee, stay in a hotel, eat, travel, and would be willing to WAIT to make up for their expenses? No. Wrong again. They would not, and having that be a standard would negate players from wanting to show up. plain and simple.
You mean to tell me that if the payments were delayed then international palyers would show up pay an entry fee, stay in a hotel, eat, travel, and would be willing to WAIT to make up for their expenses? No. Wrong again. They would not, and having that be a standard would negate players from wanting to show up. plain and simple.
I'm not sure if you've read some of the other threads about the international tournaments, but some events in Philippines and elsewhere in the Asian Pacific region where pool is shining brightly at the moment don't pay the players until sometimes 30 days later. It is usually by wire transfer, though.
Yes! More money spent! That is what is needed.
Have you ever heard of it takes money to make money? The NFL spends how many millions of dollars for each event to what? Make Millions of Dollars.
It takes spending more moeny to attract the big sponsors that pool wants and needs. Otherwise, these guys will keep making less a year than I do working a real job.
What planet are you on anyway? All the players need to do is show up, play a game and cash in? Dream on.
More needs to be done to add value to the product.
I have, and yes 15-30 days wired directly in to their account. Not carting a check to Vegas 5 months later, to find out the player isn't in Vegas so you allegedly mailed it to his home in NY.
YES I am sure that 15-30 days would be acceptable, but there are some American players who don't go to these events because of that 30 wait. And I am talking about the guys who play great but don't make Mika and SVB money. I am not talking about any top American players. But players none the less that want to play in some of these events, they don't because of how it pays out. I have specific examples but I will not share names.
And Jeeziz! You aree quoting me in your sig?! I thought we knew there was no ez ride to the $...as evidenced by our jobs!?!
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You must be kind of new 'round these parts. It's going to take a whole lot more than money to lift pool out of the mud. :embarrassed2:
The platform you describe has already been done with multi-mllion-dollar pool tournaments, a professional ad agency, and the whole nine yards. It failed.
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No I agree they don't that have a responsability to the sport as well. But the promoters are responsible for finding sponsors? You think the players should start calling around finding sponsors and NOT being able to talk particulars with the sponsor? No of course not, that would make NO sense at all.
Promoters find sponsors. Simple math really.
There is too much money going out, and not enough coming in. Pool is not a bad market because of the players and tournament directors. Pool is a bad market because nobody spends money. There is a big black market on books, tapes, DVD's, and sometimes it seems to me (someone that produces and sells those items) as if everybody wants everything for free, or at a huge five finger discount. Without the circulation of money between businesses and consumers, it'll be damn near impossible for pool to get anywhere. Solve that problem and you'll solve a thousand others.
And Jeeziz! You aree quoting me in your sig?! I thought we knew there was no ez ride to the $...as evidenced by our jobs!?!
LOL YES I AM!
VERY True no easy ride to the money, totally agree, but there are parts that each must play. You add value to the product by marketing it properly and massively. For that you need to spend money, to spend money you need a sponsor, for a sponsor you need a product.
The players aren't the complete product, the show, televeison, the dvds, the interaction is the product, not just the players.
Ha!
LOL I knew someone would bring that up, however, that is what is needed. So you guys (the pool world) allowed some jack ass come in and make promises without sanctions and contracts. Smart? Not!
Don't let one bad deal spoil the rest of the potential deals. However, I don't think there is anouther millionaire who would put a red cent in to this game. BUT it is what we need.
LOL I knew someone would bring that up, however, that is what is needed. So you guys (the pool world) allowed some jack ass come in and make promises without sanctions and contracts. Smart? Not!
Don't let one bad deal spoil the rest of the potential deals. However, I don't think there is anouther millionaire who would put a red cent in to this game. BUT it is what we need.