Best ROI (Return on Investment) Tournaments in the U.S.A.

[JoeyA]

I have thought about this for a long time. Tournament promoters that provide an EXCEPTIONAL value and return on investment (ROI) for the players should have their tournaments posted in the Main Forum.

We've all seen tournaments where, the promoters nickel and dime the players to death with this fee and that fee, the quarters, the removal of money from the purse, the removal of money from the Calcutta etc.

This thread is not about which tournament you like the most. Like most of you, I like going to tournaments that I have fun at and have a chance to win a little money at.

So in this thread, please list one of your tournaments and why you think it deserves to be in this thread.

I could easily post about the White Diamonds (BIG CALCUTTA) tournament. It's EPIC but I'm not.

The tournament I'm going to talk about is the one that I will most likely NOT go to but I am so proud of the promoters I wanted to give them a special salute.

The event is Beloit, Wisconsin tournament coming up next month at:
THE CAROM ROOM.
The GUARANTEE ADDED MONEY IS $5,000.
No money is taken out of the entry fees, Calcutta or the added money.
There are no fees of any kind.
There are no quarters to spend.
It is a weekend tournament.
They also have a serious ring game on Friday night.
You can see the flyer and the thread by clicking here.
It starts August 23-25th 2013.

If you've got a tournament that is anywhere close to this ROI, please post it in this thread.

This thread isn't about the most popular tournament but the best possible return on your investment.

Post yours and give all of the details.

JoeyA

 

[Diamond69]

Dave Coles Jr and the Carom Room are the nutz!! I feel lucky to have a place like that an hour from my home that I can go and have a great time. I've only cashed a couple of times and consider myself a donater, but I keep coming back.

This is a yearly event that I believe has only happened the last 1 or 2 years. But he also has a yearly schedule of tournaments with great ROI.

1k added to all tourneys, pro-rated based on 64 entries.
No money taken out. No quarters.
Great food and drink at great prices.
Free practice before the tourney.
Great equipment.
Great tournament directors.
and on and on and on.

Champions from 4-5 states find their way over multiple times a year. You can't find a better deal at the entry price for a great day and a great CHANCE at ROI.

Funny thing is, I'm unemployed right now and may need to relocate to another state. And missing these tournaments are something that I think about in addition to the standard stresses of moving.

 

[JoeyA]

Dave Coles Jr and the Carom Room are the nutz!! I feel lucky to have a place like that an hour from my home that I can go and have a great time. I've only cashed a couple of times and consider myself a donater, but I keep coming back.

This is a yearly event that I believe has only happened the last 1 or 2 years. But he also has a yearly schedule of tournaments with great ROI.

1k added to all tourneys, pro-rated based on 64 entries.
No money taken out. No quarters.
Great food and drink at great prices.
Free practice before the tourney.
Great equipment.
Great tournament directors.
and on and on and on.

Champions from 4-5 states find their way over multiple times a year. You can't find a better deal at the entry price for a great day and a great CHANCE at ROI.

Funny thing is, I'm unemployed right now and may need to relocate to another state. And missing these tournaments are something that I think about in addition to the standard stresses of moving.

WOW! That is INCREDIBLE!

How are the prices of nearby hotels/motels?
JoeyA

 

[Diamond69]

WOW! That is INCREDIBLE!

How are the prices of nearby hotels/motels?
JoeyA

I'm guessing pretty good. I only live an hour away, so even if I make it to day two, I drive home. But many people come from Chicago area (maybe 90 minutes) and get a room together. I'm sure the St. Louis guys get rooms as well. Gary (1 lone wolf) comes up once in awhile for the master's tournaments. He may have specific info.

And yes, in case you can't tell. I can't say enough good about the tournament, venue, and people running it.

I get Billiards Digest and read about the regional tours in NY and Texas about the "tough field of 23 players" and wonder why The Carom Room doesn't get a right up when they pull in 50+ in the masters only tournaments and 80-96 players in the no-masters events. My guess is because those are sponsored and Dave uses his own money (as far as I know). But it is odd since BD is a Chicago based magazine.

 

[Juice]

I have thought about this for a long time. Tournament promoters that provide an EXCEPTIONAL value and return on investment (ROI) for the players should have their tournaments posted in the Main Forum.

We've all seen tournaments where, the promoters nickel and dime the players to death with this fee and that fee, the quarters, the removal of money from the purse, the removal of money from the Calcutta etc.

This thread is not about which tournament you like the most. Like most of you, I like going to tournaments that I have fun at and have a chance to win a little money at.

So in this thread, please list one of your tournaments and why you think it deserves to be in this thread.

I could easily post about the White Diamonds (BIG CALCUTTA) tournament. It's EPIC but I'm not.

The tournament I'm going to talk about is the one that I will most likely NOT go to but I am so proud of the promoters I wanted to give them a special salute.

The event is Beloit, Wisconsin tournament coming up next month at:
THE CAROM ROOM.
The GUARANTEE ADDED MONEY IS $5,000.
No money is taken out of the entry fees, Calcutta or the added money.
There are no fees of any kind.
There are no quarters to spend.
It is a weekend tournament.
They also have a serious ring game on Friday night.
You can see the flyer and the thread by clicking here.
It starts August 23-25th 2013.

If you've got a tournament that is anywhere close to this ROI, please post it in this thread.

This thread isn't about the most popular tournament but the best possible return on your investment.

Post yours and give all of the details.

JoeyA

Sounds like this tournament will be hard to be beat far as no fee's but no matter what tournament you go to is it worth it financially? It is a shame that pool is the lowest paid sport that I know of. So brutal but we love the game so much.

 

[JoeyA]

Sounds like this tournament will be hard to be beat far as no fee's but no matter what tournament you go to is it worth it financially? It is a shame that pool is the lowest paid sport that I know of. So brutal but we love the game so much.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Buffalo Billiards in Metairie, LA and their COMPLETELY FREE 9 ball tournament every Tuesday night.

JoeyA

 

[Fatboy]

i believe the beloit tourny is the best one there is, nothing comes close to it. not anymore. good for them:thumbup:

 

[JoeyA]

I'm guessing pretty good. I only live an hour away, so even if I make it to day two, I drive home. But many people come from Chicago area (maybe 90 minutes) and get a room together. I'm sure the St. Louis guys get rooms as well. Gary (1 lone wolf) comes up once in awhile for the master's tournaments. He may have specific info.

And yes, in case you can't tell. I can't say enough good about the tournament, venue, and people running it.

I get Billiards Digest and read about the regional tours in NY and Texas about the "tough field of 23 players" and wonder why The Carom Room doesn't get a right up when they pull in 50+ in the masters only tournaments and 80-96 players in the no-masters events. My guess is because those are sponsored and Dave uses his own money (as far as I know). But it is odd since BD is a Chicago based magazine.

Is the nearest airport and best airport to fly into, Chicago?

Heck, if I fly into Chicago, I might have time to drop by Patrick Johnson's place and put in a couple of hours of practice and I can catch him up on all of the gossip on AZB.

JoeyA

 

[Diamond69]

Is the nearest airport and best airport to fly into, Chicago?

Heck, if I fly into Chicago, I might have time to drop by Patrick Johnson's place and put in a couple of hours of practice and I can catch him up on all of the gossip on AZB.

JoeyA

Milwaukee or Rockford are both much closer.

 

[Diamond69]

i believe the beloit tourny is the best one there is, nothing comes close to it. not anymore. good for them:thumbup:

If I were ever to open a pool room, and I've thought about it recently, I would ask Dave Coles Jr to mentor me and share his secrets.

If he wrote a book on how to run a successful poolroom, I wonder how it would look. I saw he is a new member on here, so if he sees this, maybe he'd be willing to share some secrets. I already mentioned all the positives about the place. I'd be interested in hearing from him what he feels his #1 draw is.

My guess is he adds approx $25k to his tourneys per year. He does mention sponsors for this $5k added tourney, but I'd bet much of the $5k is his money. But the $1k added tourneys he has 2x a month do not show sponsors on the ads.

Which part of his business is most important in order to have that cash to add so often? Maybe it's a break even proposition as he gets tons of people in for those tourneys eating and drinking.

 

[Fatboy]

i'd do either 2 or 4 a year with good $$$ added, it comes back around because the room and owner gets respect. terry Stonier opened his books for me when i was 21 and thinking of opening a room, he told me everything. And this was part of it. I think he eventually cut it down to one big tourny with added $$$ every year and the regular monday & tuesday night tournys.

he wasnt in a market big as Beliot where there are enough customers to add big $$$ more often.


you can bet if i owned a pool room in a area with a strong market I'd be giving away the farm with added $$$ in tourneys. I'd also do it for B tourneys, i'd figure out how to weed out the guys on the stall trying to win a easy one,

I just dont feel like working that hard to give up 50% in taxes and deal with all the regulations Federal, state and City. too much red tape for me now days to do a biz like that in america. Too many lawyers, the risk reward ratio is out of balance. sad too I know i could do it, but aint gonna happen. 30 years ago times were simpler then that chick spilled the coffee at mcDonalds and changed the biz world forever.....

 

[Diamond69]

i'd do either 2 or 4 a year with good $$$ added, it comes back around because the room and owner gets respect. terry Stonier opened his books for me when i was 21 and thinking of opening a room, he told me everything. And this was part of it. I think he eventually cut it down to one big tourny with added $$$ every year and the regular monday & tuesday night tournys.

he wasnt in a market big as Beliot where there are enough customers to add big $$$ more often.


you can bet if i owned a pool room in a area with a strong market I'd be giving away the farm with added $$$ in tourneys. I'd also do it for B tourneys, i'd figure out how to weed out the guys on the stall trying to win a easy one,

.

Actually, being close to the area, Beloit I would consider rather small at about 40,000 people. But it draws people from 8 hours away for the tourneys. He also has "no master" tourneys to give the non master players a chance to play. In addition to a couple other weekly handicap tournaments for the true B players.

Dave and the TD's do a great job of knowing players and ensuring not too many are "robbing the tournament". Nobody can ensure it never happens, but they do a great job. Larry Nevel comes in, Santos Sambojan (sp?) has passed through, Jesse Bowman, and others have come in and not won. There is serious talent in the area that nobody has a guarantee.

And Dave himself is a monster if anyone thinks their coming in to rob anyone.