Maybe they got travel expenses to make sure there were some good players in the fields and to show some of the techniques.
Colorado Open Sept 13-25 2024
- Thread starter Fore Rail
- Start date
I could see that. And with the Ultimate Pool Leagues forming up across the nation, there may be a revenue stream they can eventually pull from to justify those loss leader expenses. Since it is the inaugural year of this promoter in this market, it's not surprising to see those tactics employed to help the buzz. But it goes back to wondering what the future will be like. Will they stop planting their European pros in our events? Will US shortstops be the Ultimate Pool USA pros? Will prize funds grow? Will US or even international Pros turn out? Or will these events fundamentally be amateur events by-and-large once those European pros stop attending?
The first question is how are they going to make money? Bar table leagues already exist. What do they do better than APA, CSI, TAP, VNEA, ACS, and the many in-house leagues? Whose lunch will they eat?
They have launched 39 leagues across 21 states this year from Washington to Florida. They are advertising a league grand finals with a $100k prize to the 1st place team. Perhaps a real benefit is their use of shot clocks and match clocks in league play. I would say having leagues end at a consistent time does have some appeal. But ultimately it might be more about the buzz they generate with media production. There's a good chance their grand championships might be more "watchable" than anything the other leagues try streaming.
One thing they brag about is their rules are consistent whether you're seeing a shootout, open, league play, juniors, women, or the grand finals. Of course that's just spin because what promoter doesn't have consistent rules within their own events. The "rules issue" is obviously across different promoters. And their "International 8-Ball Rules" is a misleading branding to make their hybrid ruleset between English 8-ball and Americal 8-ball sound official but here in the US their rules will be the most unlike what we already know from APA, CSI, TAP, VNEA, ACS, or even APA.
Overall, hard to say. It'll be fun to see how they address sandbagging.
i would probably not even watch it in that scenario. just look at bergman - and he's really at a disadvantage to begin with using this short shot clock - or melling run out after almost every successful break no matter the layout. then it becomes just about the break, and maybe even the lag. i would rather watch shortstops, new youngsters and former greats like matlock.
The matches are handicapped? Do they say how the ratings are determined?
I haven't heard anything on any of the tournament streams about the league being a handicapped league. I guess I assumed they would have some sort of a handicap scheme, but maybe not? If not, that would be a big plus in my book. I'm not a top shooter, but I do really enjoy competing against all levels, especially opponents that are stronger than me. My game improves noticeably when I am shooting against someone I am not supposed to beat.
I’m not aware of their handicapping system but I assume it’s not going to be purely open. I do know they have player ratings called a UPscore.
And this is an excerpt of a post from a LO in North Idaho.
And this is an excerpt of a post from a LO in North Idaho.
"Total points across 5 players must be less than 2400 points"
This is both more lenient and more restrictive than APA depending on the players involved.
On one hand, a player with a 475 rating would be a 5 or 6 according to BU (https://billiarduniversity.org/documents/BU_Rating_Comparisons.pdf), so that's a maximum in the APA 27-28 range for five players compared to APA's 23-rule.
However they make it harder to put especially high-rated players on your team compared to APA, which has a maximum rating of 7 incorporating players of 550 and above. So you can put a 650 on your team in APA and it still hits you by only 7 points, while every additional rating point goes toward the cap in UP.
This is both more lenient and more restrictive than APA depending on the players involved.
On one hand, a player with a 475 rating would be a 5 or 6 according to BU (https://billiarduniversity.org/documents/BU_Rating_Comparisons.pdf), so that's a maximum in the APA 27-28 range for five players compared to APA's 23-rule.
However they make it harder to put especially high-rated players on your team compared to APA, which has a maximum rating of 7 incorporating players of 550 and above. So you can put a 650 on your team in APA and it still hits you by only 7 points, while every additional rating point goes toward the cap in UP.
Cord
Active member
So the palest white English dude in the whole room is wearing a sponsor patch from "The Tanning Suite."
It would be harder to make this shirt less flattering if you tried
I'm sure there's a Walmart nearby where you can buy a black polo shirt for 20 bucks, which is not designed to accentuate one's moobs and gut.
Nope. Just a general comment. I've seen only a couple of the speed-pool shootouts, and none of the players involved had the sort of physical limitation I was contemplating.is this refering to the british contingent?
That seems to be the domain of black ball players. They have to rely heavily on surgical touch but they do get out but quick.
In talking with em Bob here's their key/when choosing a room.
They need an arena/tv/shoot/production area surrounded by an audience.
Not allot of pool rooms have this much room.
Their on line medium seems to be Key in getting their business model prosperous.
They had Allot of people from over the pond, helping the event.
well they play barbox 8-ball all the time, it's the only thing they play. that's not true for pro level players in any other part of the world. i think bergman gave a pretty good hint on how 800+ players will handle this format (and maybe, imho, why they shouldn't bother).
I think all of that is separate from how they might make weekly leagues work. I think the organization of many rooms into a successful, new, amateur league is a hard problem.
True Bob, but one guy told me the arena area was a ''must''. It can showcase, like it did/Melling/Bergman/Matlock and others.
My feelings and talked with em allot, they might be creating a pro bar table tour... that's my gut.
Feels like someone's is gonna give this a good go.
They had allot of employees from across the pond.
bm
My feelings and talked with em allot, they might be creating a pro bar table tour... that's my gut.
Feels like someone's is gonna give this a good go.
They had allot of employees from across the pond.
bm
They only need the arena to host one of their big tournaments. The weekly leagues they're promoting do not require it.
I wish! Just trying to clarify since some seem confused.
And I for one appreciate it.
I was able spend time at the Denver event Saturday and Sunday.
I had a great time and met some good folks.
Had a good chat with Melling. Chris seems like a great guy and fantastic player.