Comet Billiards Closing
- Thread starter Nostroke
- Start date
Ouch. For sure.
Please.. someone confirm... this is really a sad day for pool if it is true.
Wishes all the best for Mr. Haley and his staff regardless.
Wishes all the best for Mr. Haley and his staff regardless.
Man, this is depressing. Yet another valued establishment being forced to close its doors. What will accustats do with their gameshow? What about the 14.1 tourneys?
Rhetorical question of the year: When is the next boon for pool? We're overdue! Hustler=mid-60's. COM=mid-80's. We should be in the middle of a boon if the 20 year cycle were consistent.
Rhetorical question of the year: When is the next boon for pool? We're overdue! Hustler=mid-60's. COM=mid-80's. We should be in the middle of a boon if the 20 year cycle were consistent.
Yes Comet will be closing next week.
Truly sad day for pool. Thanks to Bill and Marcia for having an excellent facility the past 8-9 years. Their dedication to the sport allowed us to participate in great events, watch world class events and have a place to call a home room.
Christian
Truly sad day for pool. Thanks to Bill and Marcia for having an excellent facility the past 8-9 years. Their dedication to the sport allowed us to participate in great events, watch world class events and have a place to call a home room.
Christian
Sorry to hear the news. Where will Accustats move to now? I do think pool is having a really tough time in the economy, it was not great before that and the smoking ban did not help any either, I am a smoker but would deal with it for pool rooms to be making money. 
There just aren't customers or people interested in playing. Bill said himself that the internet/technology (facebook, myspace, online poker, texting etc)all contributed to lack of business. We rarely have groups of kids coming in to play. Comet is third pool room in our area to close in the past couple months.
Christian
Christian
I hate to say it, but the days of the large "pool hall" are numbered. I don't see many places surviving long term that don't fit the following:
#1 Must have less than 15 tables
#2 Must have a full bar
#3 Must have a kitchen
#4 Must have sports on TV
#5 Must have leagues most nights of the week
#6 Must have other events that bring in non-pool players (ie. darts, card tournaments, live music, private parties, etc)
#7 A large group of non-gambler regulars
If you don't have them, you will slowly die out.
Brian
#1 Must have less than 15 tables
#2 Must have a full bar
#3 Must have a kitchen
#4 Must have sports on TV
#5 Must have leagues most nights of the week
#6 Must have other events that bring in non-pool players (ie. darts, card tournaments, live music, private parties, etc)
#7 A large group of non-gambler regulars
If you don't have them, you will slowly die out.
Brian
This is really sad. Best of luck to Bill and Marcia
Do you know the exact date they are closing?
Are they having a "last hurrah" party? It might be a good way to wish Bill and Marcia well, if a crowd of Pool players can come by, spend some money and (personally) thank them for having a great room?
Eric
your exactly right, and your list adds up to pool just being a side show in a business, kinda like a pinball machine or 2 over in the corner.
the only bright spot in this disaster for pool rooms is rents are falling in the commercial market, the housing market crashed about 12-18 months ago(best I can recall) that that collapse is hapening to commercial shopping centers and anchor tenants right now. With falling rents and buying used equipment it will cost alot less to build/operate a pool room, thus the prices can be lower for the customers and the owner can still realize a profit. Where as the current rooms are in expensive leases and the rent is killing the rooms. I guarantee you if the rent was 50%-60% less for Comet they would stay open, but the property owners cant pay the banks the loans if they drop the rents-so the pool rooms are history. When it all shakes out in a few years rents will be lower and pool rooms a more viable business.
Having said that, its hard to fade the internet(games, facebook, etc) Pool is a old obslete game, like the hula hoop its gone or roller derby. I hate it but thats how I see it. I'm still going to play no matter what, if the world loses a few bangers so be it, what I dont like is some of those bangers turn out to be top players-thats where the life expectany of pool drops off a cliff.
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I gotta play devils advocate....
Couldn't you say the same thing about Bowling? Bowling ctrs are holding their own, and use much more sq footage than pool rooms. Bowling's per customer revenue is similar too. Shouldn't bowling be suffering like Pool?
Off topic, are you going to the Open again?
Eric
Most bowling alleys also serve alcohol. I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that Comet's didn't. Which goes along with the comment about the establishment being a place for drinking first and the others being a "side show".
I don't think may bowling alleys would stay alive without alcohol served.
Brian
Actually, I was curious about Fatboy's comment that "Pool is an obsolete game".
While booze and food are a part of the business model for Bowling, keep in mind that if noone bowled, then you can just go to a bar to drink (instead of teh bowling alley).
Eric
Comet Biliards
Truly sad.
I just ran into a guy at a local tournament in Tucson this past Saturday and he said he used to play at Comet and described a match that Pat Fleming played there once against him. I'll have to tell him if he shows up to Wednesday's tournament. One of the largest rooms in Arizona is sinking fast and probably will not be open this time next year.
Truly sad.
I just ran into a guy at a local tournament in Tucson this past Saturday and he said he used to play at Comet and described a match that Pat Fleming played there once against him. I'll have to tell him if he shows up to Wednesday's tournament. One of the largest rooms in Arizona is sinking fast and probably will not be open this time next year.