Bowling has Denny's. Why not pool?

Njhustler1

Njhustler1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I noticed on a bowling commercial the other day that Denny's restaurant chain sponsors one of their tours or tournaments. How come pool cant land a sponsor like Denny's? IT'S THE SAME EXACT DEMOGRAPHIC AS BOWLERS. And there's probably a lot more people in this country that play pool then bowl. Just a guess. Has this sort of sponsorhip been attempted before (i.e. by a non beer or cigarrette or billiard product company)? Are people who run the tours going after these sorts of advertisers?

On a related note, I'm a little too young to have played in it at the time, but why did Camel cigarettes cease their sponsorship of the bar leagues years ago? They seem like the perfect partner.

Thanks.
 
Njhustler1 said:
I noticed on a bowling commercial the other day that Denny's restaurant chain sponsors one of their tours or tournaments. How come pool cant land a sponsor like Denny's? IT'S THE SAME EXACT DEMOGRAPHIC AS BOWLERS. And there's probably a lot more people in this country that play pool then bowl. Just a guess. Has this sort of sponsorhip been attempted before (i.e. by a non beer or cigarrette or billiard product company)? Are people who run the tours going after these sorts of advertisers?

On a related note, I'm a little too young to have played in it at the time, but why did Camel cigarettes cease their sponsorship of the bar leagues years ago? They seem like the perfect partner.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It's really not the same demographic as pool. Much more family oriented. They have one major association, the PBA. Their events are televised on ESPN. They have a staff of 32 and 4,250 members. The association was purchased in 2000 by a group of former Microsoft executives who really globalized the sport. They not only have a 3 year multi-million dollar deal with Denny's, but also very big relationships with Ace Hardware and Motel 6. Over $9 million in prize money is distributed over the Denny's PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour. They give stock options to the top bowlers every year - a first for any sports league/organization. They modified the dress code so that bowlers can develop their unique personalities. This season, bowlers will wear special jerseys during all PBA Pro-Am events. (*all of this info can be found on their website, which has been newly updated and redesigned)

All in all, they have one unified organization... which is really kick-ass. "Pool" can't just land a great sponsor, until a unified organization becomes a reality.
 
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Thanks for the insight. I was not aware of those details. But that leads me to my next question, did Denny's and the other big sponsors sign on before all the leagues joined forces? Or did the signing of Denny's and others entice leagues to join forces under this emerging powerhouse league?
 
Right on

lodini said:
It's really not the same demographic as pool. Much more family oriented. They have one major association, the PBA. Their events are televised on ESPN. They have a staff of 32 and 4,250 members. The association was purchased in 2000 by a group of former Microsoft executives who really globalized the sport. They not only have a 3 year multi-million dollar deal with Denny's, but also very big relationships with Ace Hardware and Motel 6. Over $9 million in prize money is distributed over the Denny's PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour. They give stock options to the top bowlers every year - a first for any sports league/organization. They modified the dress code so that bowlers can develop their unique personalities. This season, bowlers will wear special jerseys during all PBA Pro-Am events. (*all of this info can be found on their website, which has been newly updated and redesigned)

All in all, they have one unified organization... which is really kick-ass. "Pool" can't just land a great sponsor, until a unified organization becomes a reality.
Click to expand...
You hit on the main reason pool does not thrive, and is stuck where it is currently. I agree without one unified body governing pool we can forget going mainstream.
 
lodini said:
It's really not the same demographic as pool. Much more family oriented. They have one major association, the PBA. Their events are televised on ESPN. They have a staff of 32 and 4,250 members. The association was purchased in 2000 by a group of former Microsoft executives who really globalized the sport. They not only have a 3 year multi-million dollar deal with Denny's, but also very big relationships with Ace Hardware and Motel 6. Over $9 million in prize money is distributed over the Denny's PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour. They give stock options to the top bowlers every year - a first for any sports league/organization. They modified the dress code so that bowlers can develop their unique personalities. This season, bowlers will wear special jerseys during all PBA Pro-Am events. (*all of this info can be found on their website, which has been newly updated and redesigned)

All in all, they have one unified organization... which is really kick-ass. "Pool" can't just land a great sponsor, until a unified organization becomes a reality.
Click to expand...


I would say that this sums it up pretty well... :)
 
lodini said:
It's really not the same demographic as pool. Much more family oriented. They have one major association, the PBA. Their events are televised on ESPN. They have a staff of 32 and 4,250 members. The association was purchased in 2000 by a group of former Microsoft executives who really globalized the sport. They not only have a 3 year multi-million dollar deal with Denny's, but also very big relationships with Ace Hardware and Motel 6. Over $9 million in prize money is distributed over the Denny's PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA Senior Tour. They give stock options to the top bowlers every year - a first for any sports league/organization. They modified the dress code so that bowlers can develop their unique personalities. This season, bowlers will wear special jerseys during all PBA Pro-Am events. (*all of this info can be found on their website, which has been newly updated and redesigned)

All in all, they have one unified organization... which is really kick-ass. "Pool" can't just land a great sponsor, until a unified organization becomes a reality.
Click to expand...
Once again you are exactly right! Take it a step further on their web site
"History of the PBA" and you'll find they have only been in existence since
1959, Thats only 2 years before the first Johnston City Tournament (1961)
More to come later.
 
Actually I think Waffle House would be perfect!!! They're not really nationally known so it'd be a great opportunity to gain exposure to people in new markets that are still within their demographic. Waffle House is well overdue for a marketing push. I've never seen an advertisement for one. Granted I don't live in the South. But I've seen Sonic advertised here in the northeast and the closest Sonic I know if is in California!
 
The northeast. Besides, as there is a waffle house at every highway exit in the south, why waste money on marketing ???? A much better match would be a coffee company.

tim
 
stikapos said:
The northeast. Besides, as there is a waffle house at every highway exit in the south, why waste money on marketing ???? A much better match would be a coffee company.

tim
Click to expand...


The Jaun Valdez Colombian Bean Billiards Tour?
 
Wawa!

Back to my original question, did Denny's and the other big sponsors sign on before all the leagues joined forces? Or did the signing of Denny's and others entice leagues to join forces under this emerging powerhouse league?
 
There really has only been one 'league' for professional bowlers, the PBA. There is also the WPBA (womens tour) and Senoir Tour, that is it. Denny's is the first title sponsor the PBA has had that I'm aware of, it still has event sponsors at each stop on the tour.

All of this started with the new owners took over a couple years ago.
 
Njhustler1 said:
Wawa!

Back to my original question, did Denny's and the other big sponsors sign on before all the leagues joined forces? Or did the signing of Denny's and others entice leagues to join forces under this emerging powerhouse league?
Click to expand...

"The PBA was established in 1958 when 33 charter members banded together to form the Professional Bowlers Association. " (from their website)

Denny's signed on just a few years ago.

Sponsor Since
United States Bowling Congress 2001
GEICO 2002
Pepsi-Cola 2002
Brunswick 2003
Bayer 2003
Denny?s 2005
Motel 6 2005
Ace Hardware 2005
Etonic 2006
Columbia 300 2006
H&R Block 2006
Discover? Card 2006
 
BPG24 said:
So where do people in the NE go when they are drunk at 3AM? IHOP?
Click to expand...

Diners, pizza places, maybe a cheese steak place if you are in philly.. trashcan if you are busted.
 
While we're on the topic (sorry but my creative juices are flowing) if bowling is so much better organized AND its rules are consistent across the globe, why is bowling not in the Olympics?
 
Wow...you must not get out much! :D Sonic is a mainstream national fast food chain, with stores in more than 28 states! :eek: Not only that, but the food is 10X better than "Awful Waffle"...what a gut bomb. Unfortunately they're on almost every corner in the south.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Njhustler1 said:
But I've seen Sonic advertised here in the northeast and the closest Sonic I know if is in California!
Click to expand...
 
While we're on subject...this has been detailed several times before. The reason is the same reason pool isn't in the Olympics. There can be NO NEW SPORTS added until they drop others. There is currently a list of over 50 sports vying for their chance to become Olympic sports. Neither pool nor bowling have the $$$ behind them, to "grease the wheels"(although bowling perhaps has a better chance). Olympic lobbying is very big business!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Njhustler1 said:
While we're on the topic (sorry but my creative juices are flowing) if bowling is so much better organized AND its rules are consistent across the globe, why is bowling not in the Olympics?
Click to expand...
 
Scott Lee said:
Wow...you must not get out much! :D Sonic is a mainstream national fast food chain, with stores in more than 28 states! :eek: Not only that, but the food is 10X better than "Awful Waffle"...what a gut bomb. Unfortunately they're on almost every corner in the south.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...


You aren't joking about the "on every corner" thing.

There is a town in Arkansas that has 3 Sonic's in a 4 mile radius.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top