Curing the u.s. Open

[keystone71]

I would love to hear what others think how to cure the problems of the Open. Here is my opinion.

First thing to do is Barry has to step aside and not run the open any more. Too many complications from this year and many times in the past. He has done great in some years and poorly in others. But this event needs to be great every year.

After this is done a venue needs to be found that is easier to get to by plane. A major route for all airlines is preferred. Major routes will decrease costs.

Last but definitely not least.....pay the players and help on time. No delays! If this can't be done than don't promise so much money added.

It is much easier to run a tournament when you do what you say you are going to do rather than hear the crap that comes your way when you cannot deliver.

I would love to hear where the open should be relocated to.

 

[Mark Griffin]

Curing the US Open

Keystone71.

You did not offer one solution.
Obviously there is a problem with the structure of the event or the management of the event - or both.

Obviously he 'needs' to pay the players and other expenses. But where is the how to accomplish this?

And with this moving to a more central location - will this magically create hundreds of additional paying spectators? More than likely, the attendance will fall because the local supporters would not be replaced.

If it was simple everyone would do it.

I really think these posts are trying to help find an answer, but until ready to commit a massive amount of time, energy and MONEY,- your suggestions have no value.

Mark Griffin

I would love to hear what others think how to cure the problems of the Open. Here is my opinion.

First thing to do is Barry has to step aside and not run the open any more. Too many complications from this year and many times in the past. He has done great in some years and poorly in others. But this event needs to be great every year.

After this is done a venue needs to be found that is easier to get to by plane. A major route for all airlines is preferred. Major routes will decrease costs.

Last but definitely not least.....pay the players and help on time. No delays! If this can't be done than don't promise so much money added.

It is much easier to run a tournament when you do what you say you are going to do rather than hear the crap that comes your way when you cannot deliver.

I would love to hear where the open should be relocated to.

 

[raise1]

I would love to hear what others think how to cure the problems of the Open. Here is my opinion.

First thing to do is Barry has to step aside and not run the open any more. Too many complications from this year and many times in the past. He has done great in some years and poorly in others. But this event needs to be great every year.

After this is done a venue needs to be found that is easier to get to by plane. A major route for all airlines is preferred. Major routes will decrease costs.

Last but definitely not least.....pay the players and help on time. No delays! If this can't be done than don't promise so much money added.

It is much easier to run a tournament when you do what you say you are going to do rather than hear the crap that comes your way when you cannot deliver.

I would love to hear where the open should be relocated to.

Sorry but why does Barry has to step aside? He owns it, builds it, so he can do whatever he wants with it. If he runs it good, it will make him money. If he does a bad job running it, it will go down.

Barry is a smart guy. He doesn't need anyone's advices on how to run his business. He probably won't listen to anyone's suggestions anyway. :wink:

 

[CreeDo]

Seems to me there's a simple, one step method barry can use to guarantee every player gets paid on time.

Redefine "On Time".

'come to my tournament. I'm gonna tell you up front that some players get paid in thirty days, but you know I'm good for it'.

Then he'll follow through and do exactly what he said what he was going to do... poof, no more controversy. A smashing success.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Keystone71.

You did not offer one solution.
Obviously there is a problem with the structure of the event or the management of the event - or both.

Obviously he 'needs' to pay the players and other expenses. But where is the how to accomplish this?

And with this moving to a more central location - will this magically create hundreds of additional paying spectators? More than likely, the attendance will fall because the local supporters would not be replaced.

If it was simple everyone would do it.

I really think these posts are trying to help find an answer, but until ready to commit a massive amount of time, energy and MONEY,- your suggestions have no value.

Mark Griffin

Mark

Yeah, as I'm sure you know as well as anybody, what is needed is sponsorship money and clearly there is no quick fix to the fact that there is a lack of fan interest in pool (at least enough to drive sponsorship). I'm sure I'm just preaching to the choir here.

Here's my question. I asked Jay this and he answered me, but I don't remember the answer so I'm not sure I bought it. LOL. I used to go to the US Open Straight Pool in Chicago back on the 70s. That place wasn't that packed, I don't think pool was that much more popular then than it is now. I don't think there was a big corporate sponsor for the US Open and maybe the finals were on ABC Wide World of Spots and maybe not. Yet the prize money was good (for the day) I think. I think they raised the money for the prize money through large entry fees. I think they made the entry fees payable by having US Open Qualifiers (maybe a two step process with local and regional?) all around the country with more reasonable entry money where the prize fund was small but the winner got a paid entry to the Open?

Why wouldn't that work now?

Thanks

Kevin

 

[JAM]

It breaks my heart to read words about Barry Behrman "stepping down." I know the Open has problems with the payouts, but Barry is a passionate man about pool. Most of all, he is passionate about the players

People might be forgetting the events he has put on that were successful in years gone by. How many years has the Open been in existence? Is it 37, I think I read somewhere?

Even though the Open is experiencing these problems, I would never ask Barry to step down. I really love him in a platonic way. I just want to make my opinion known on this pool form about him.

Barry, if you're reading the forum, I know some of the words may hurt to the bone, but you're still one of my favorite pool people in the entire world!

 

[kvinbrwr]

Seems to me there's a simple, one step method barry can use to guarantee every player gets paid on time.

Redefine "On Time".

'come to my tournament. I'm gonna tell you up front that some players get paid in thirty days, but you know I'm good for it'.

Then he'll follow through and do exactly what he said what he was going to do... poof, no more controversy. A smashing success.

I'm with you. It seems like a future value of money deal and I think in that context most players would opt for the bigger payout over time. After all, Barry never stiffs anybody. I don't know how you can demand that he pay immediately without also demanding that the pay outs will be smaller.

Kevin

 

[cardiac kid]

Keystone71.

You did not offer one solution.
Obviously there is a problem with the structure of the event or the management of the event - or both.

Obviously he 'needs' to pay the players and other expenses. But where is the how to accomplish this?

And with this moving to a more central location - will this magically create hundreds of additional paying spectators? More than likely, the attendance will fall because the local supporters would not be replaced.

If it was simple everyone would do it.

I really think these posts are trying to help find an answer, but until ready to commit a massive amount of time, energy and MONEY,- your suggestions have no value.

Mark Griffin

Mark,

I agree with you. There is virtually nothing in any of our posts capable of correcting the problems of the US Open 9 Ball or "Pro" pool in general. We may be part of the problem. Not the solution.

You, Greg and the entire Diamond Billiards family seem to be the only ones capable of making things run better. The BCA doesn't care. The WPA doesn't care about American pool. The crew at Mushroom seems to care about American pool only to provide a foil for the European players at the Mosconi Cup event. I see the future of American professional pool as being near death. Too few events. Too little money. I'm tired of playing for other players entry fees! JMHO.

Lyn