DCC Rates/Prices

kath13

kath13

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Ok, I'm not usually one for complaining and usually just over-look those that do.... But... I'm going to complain. I just can't help myself!

This is the first year that I was able to go to DCC and I came back last night. I was able to wach many great matches including the 1 Pocket semi-finals and Rounds 6 and 7 of 9 ball. I was in pool heaven and almost had sensory over-load at one point when they called out the 9 ball matches. Archer, Bustamante, Mika, Ralf, Shane and the list keeps going!

While my senses were overloaded with all these champions in play, my pocketbook was getting number by the minute. The admission charge of $15 was completely fair in my book, other things need to be reviewed

1. 1 can of cola: $2.84

2. 1 cup of coffee: $2.84

3. Frappachino: $5.68 (or close)

4. Croissant with egg: $7.50

5. 1 bottle of beer: $3.50

These prices are ridiculous! I was starting to get the impression that the casino thought all pool players had the bank account of Donald Trump.

While watching the 9 ball matches, I couldn't help but notice that the tables were so closely placed that players had to look out behind them, wait for shots, etc. There was no rhythm to their play. Let's not go into the issues the tournament ran into with actual tournaments and the waiting times for matches due to computer malfunctions. Seating was an interesting issue as well or lack thereof if you had VIP seats.

If rumor is correct and DCC will be held at the casino again, it would behoove the organizers to discuss pricing to make it a little more reasonable. As it stands now, if the pricing is the same and/or goes up, DCC had just gone out of my financial comfort zone whether for a day or for more.

Maybe I'm the only one who felt like that in which case, I'm sorry for wasting your time. With all I spent in hydrating myself, I couldn't purchase much to support the vendors and franky, yes I didn't tip very well either.
 
DCC prices

No Kath,you are not the only one that felt like the prices were high,I went on friday,1/22 and the price of a can of soda then was 2.41w/tax,thought that was high,for dinner I thought i would treat myself to a steak,the least expensive steak was $33,passed on that and went to the buffet.All the other casino's on the river charge about $10-12 for there buffet,$26 later I was really dissappointed,the food was terrible.I wish Mr. Sullivan would consider moveing to another casino,like maybe the Rising Sun or Argosey,they are a little closer to tristate border(KY,OH,IN) and much more reasonbly priced

The tourney was great as usual,lots of great players and matches,it was hard to find what table they were on though,the hotel is really spead out compared to the Executive,you had to do a lot of walking.Not as many vendors this year,maybe a sign of the economy,I hope the trip was profitable for them so we will see them next year.

Overall still alot of fun and I met some great AZer's in the Az room,Chicagomike,and SJM,the youngest old schooler,thanks for showing me how my cue is supposed to work! LOL;)

In closing I hope Greg can solve some of the problems so the tourney can continue and prosper.It's the greatest tourney in the world!
 
kath13...Surely you cannot be so naive as to believe that Greg Sullivan has ANY influence on what the casino charges for food and drink. Have you ever been to a professional sporting event, or a concert? They charge inline with what you paid...and the ticket prices are often outrageous! Either suck it up, or bring your own...

The table layout is another thing. That, Diamond has some control over. This was the first year at the casino, and hopefully they can rearrange things a little better next year.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

kath13 said:
Ok, I'm not usually one for complaining and usually just over-look those that do.... But... I'm going to complain. I just can't help myself!

1. 1 can of cola: $2.84

2. 1 cup of coffee: $2.84

3. Frappachino: $5.68 (or close)

4. Croissant with egg: $7.50

5. 1 bottle of beer: $3.50

These prices are ridiculous! I was starting to get the impression that the casino thought all pool players had the bank account of Donald Trump.
Click to expand...
 
I don't see anything wrong with the expenses for a once-a-year Derby City Classic. Some pool folk don't go to any other event except this yearly pool mecca, and for them, each one of them, it is well worth the money to get a pool high for the entire week.

What can hurt the pocketbook is when you have to go to tournaments three and four times a month, sometimes elsewhere than the United States, to compete professionally.

I guess what I am saying is that one must pick their pool events wisely. I have been to the DCC several times when it was at Executive West, and I still incurred $3,000 in expenses for the entire week, i.e., travel, hotel, entry fees, miscellaneous expenses.

The four MAJORs in pool these days on American soil for me are:

Derby City Classic, Horseshoe Casino in Indiana (usually in January)
$25,000 added Joss Tour at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY (usually February and August)
Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, PA (usually in March)
U.S. 9-ball Open Championship in Chesapeake Beach, VA (usually in October)

Those would be the ones I would always consider going to if I had a limited pool budget! :p
 
You could have to deal with prices elsewhere...Let's say you are a big tennis fan, and decide to go to the US Open. Bottled water is $6, yep water, 6 dollars. Hungry? How about a ham sandwich (ham and bread, we are not talking Quiznos here) for $8. ETC ETC ETC. The worst part about the DCC though is that you can't hop on the subway or even just walk a couple of blocks for other options....it's 8 miles from anything (I do mean ANYTHING), so that was bad. I did leave the property to eat a couple of times, but after the storm and downed trees, etc. You were pretty much locked in to whatever you could get there. Though Wed. morning the roads were so bad that half the employees couldn't make it in, and the breakfast buffet was discounted ($5) - WHOO HOO!! All I can say is I've been to tons of events that cost WAY more for food and drink, so prices didn't seem too outta line to me.
 
Those prices seem comparable or less to what you would pay at a sporting event or even many bars in the area where I live.
 
Scott Lee said:
kath13...Surely you cannot be so naive as to believe that Greg Sullivan has ANY influence on what the casino charges for food and drink. Have you ever been to a professional sporting event, or a concert? They charge inline with what you paid...and the ticket prices are often outrageous! Either suck it up, or bring your own...

The table layout is another thing. That, Diamond has some control over. This was the first year at the casino, and hopefully they can rearrange things a little better next year.

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


Scott -

Maybe I am naive too, because I was outraged as well. I negotiate 6 and 7 figure contracts on projects and trust me, everything is negotable.

Obviously, the new venue was a disaster, and anyone who tries to say otherwise have a great prescription for rose colored glasses. The vendors were disappointed, (who could blame them on the layouts), the players spent much of their time sitting around waiting on matches that were postponed and postponed again. I have already posted about the favortism for top players on playing locations.

I have been to ALL DCC, and this has to be worst for spectators. The walk back and forth to the room was more like the baton death march. Room rates were outrageous, and food and beverage were so high it disgusts me.

And Scott, you arrogant nit, to say Kathy should suck it up or bring their own food is almost laughable.

Like Johnson City, the Stardust, now the DCC, its time has passed.

Ken
 
Scott Lee said:
kath13...Surely you cannot be so naive as to believe that Greg Sullivan has ANY influence on what the casino charges for food and drink. Have you ever been to a professional sporting event, or a concert? They charge inline with what you paid...and the ticket prices are often outrageous! Either suck it up, or bring your own...

The table layout is another thing. That, Diamond has some control over. This was the first year at the casino, and hopefully they can rearrange things a little better next year.

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

And unfortunately, for casino P/L purposes, food and drink prices are escalated due to the comping of many of these items.

Others will disagree, but I still think that casinos and pool make a great match. If Harrahs gets more involved, it can only get better for the player and fans.
 
Marking up food like this is kinda stupid. I would understand if it was memorabilia or merchandise, but this kind of gouging is pure profit-mongering, seeing as how there's no shortage of actual supply or added cost to the vendors. A casino charging 26 bucks for a buffet? Cmon, it's not like they're the Wynn, and even then at least the Wynn serves some amazing food for their 30 dollar buffets.

33 dollars for a steak? Are we talking 16 oz. porterhouse or a dry-aged 12 oz. Strip? If not, that's just a ridiculous rip-off.

I understand how prices at sporting events are higher due to the relatively high bargaining power of the supplier and also due to supply/demand, but not having any kind of alternative at all just starts to look a little too much like oligopolistic collusion between vendors and the casino. People may just have to suck it up and deal with it, but they DON'T have to like it and in my opinion are entitled to the right to complain about this BS.
 
It appears i made the right choice this yr DERBY, stay home. 1st i have missed! The boys better rethink next yrs. because if the derby is not back at the east hotel count me out again. I saw all the negatives coming for the fact it was held at a casino. :(
 
I was there from Thur to Thur, 7 nights, and had a great time, sorry everyone did not. I thought for the first time at this venue it was fine, it should get better if they decide to stay there. I have not been to other tournments, however, have been to the DCC 8 years. I don't know how to compare to other tournments, but I would sure come back. The AZ room was small, but it was ok for the first time. It was a long walk back to the room, but it gave me some much need exercise from sitting and watching pool for 10-12 hours..
 
ken i don,t know you but if i knew how to give you rep i would. calling this guy a nit was perfect and you simply beat me to the punch. what a jerk and if anyone thinks that the vendors didn,t suffer from the derby being on a casino property as well,you are mistaken, as i spoke with several and they said that everyone who brought extra money as well as the players were losing it in the casino instead of buying cues cases etc... i really liked the hotel room but other than that bring back the executive west when it was about pool and action only and you could see all the matches. no contest the ex. west was better for the derby and the new site(horseshoe) is a terrible layout for the derby.
 
kath13 said:
Ok, I'm not usually one for complaining and usually just over-look those that do.... But... I'm going to complain. I just can't help myself!

This is the first year that I was able to go to DCC and I came back last night. I was able to wach many great matches including the 1 Pocket semi-finals and Rounds 6 and 7 of 9 ball. I was in pool heaven and almost had sensory over-load at one point when they called out the 9 ball matches. Archer, Bustamante, Mika, Ralf, Shane and the list keeps going!

While my senses were overloaded with all these champions in play, my pocketbook was getting number by the minute. The admission charge of $15 was completely fair in my book, other things need to be reviewed

1. 1 can of cola: $2.84

2. 1 cup of coffee: $2.84

3. Frappachino: $5.68 (or close)

4. Croissant with egg: $7.50

5. 1 bottle of beer: $3.50

These prices are ridiculous! I was starting to get the impression that the casino thought all pool players had the bank account of Donald Trump.

While watching the 9 ball matches, I couldn't help but notice that the tables were so closely placed that players had to look out behind them, wait for shots, etc. There was no rhythm to their play. Let's not go into the issues the tournament ran into with actual tournaments and the waiting times for matches due to computer malfunctions. Seating was an interesting issue as well or lack thereof if you had VIP seats.

If rumor is correct and DCC will be held at the casino again, it would behoove the organizers to discuss pricing to make it a little more reasonable. As it stands now, if the pricing is the same and/or goes up, DCC had just gone out of my financial comfort zone whether for a day or for more.

Maybe I'm the only one who felt like that in which case, I'm sorry for wasting your time. With all I spent in hydrating myself, I couldn't purchase much to support the vendors and franky, yes I didn't tip very well either.
Click to expand...
You make some very good points and I think most if not all of what you say is true. I have been to lot's and lot's of different casion's and the price's at the Horseshoe are steep. I think a lot of people are used to the places in Las Vegas where all the drinks are free and the room rates are less because of the amount of people that pass through there. I think something could be done about the price of the food and drinks because unless you want to spend $20 on up you have just a couple choices of either a quick hotdog or something along that line. The small cafes around the tournament room were not bad but it seemed like they were closed most of the time. It;s always hard to make the switch to a new place and the layout didnt help this one any. The majority of the tables were upstairs and were scattered among several rooms. One table upstairs in a certain spot was impossible to make a shot without shooting almost straight down on the ball. One thing that I thought was a little crazy and had nothing to do with the tournament was the fact that for one full day there was no tv and they refused to let you watch one movie for free or have one free day of the internet. This just goes to show that the casino has no desire to accomodate the people staying there or the people attending an event there because they can rely on those who come and pass their money out like it's Halloween candy and then leave. The people at Diamond did their best with what they have to work with and Greg Sullivan was kind enough to talk with people about the event and their opinions on it. I don't think the gambling part of the casino was as big an issue as a lot of people thought it was going to be, it was everything else that people had to funnel their money into. I do plan on attending the event next year but just for a weekend and I feel they will be a little more on top of things.
 
jayburger said:
ken i don,t know you but if i knew how to give you rep i would. calling this guy a nit was perfect and you simply beat me to the punch. what a jerk and if anyone thinks that the vendors didn,t suffer from the derby being on a casino property as well,you are mistaken, as i spoke with several and they said that everyone who brought extra money as well as the players were losing it in the casino instead of buying cues cases etc... i really liked the hotel room but other than that bring back the executive west when it was about pool and action only and you could see all the matches. no contest the ex. west was better for the derby and the new site(horseshoe) is a terrible layout for the derby.
Click to expand...

I agree with you.

I love Greg Sullivan, and the tradition of the Derby City Classic is one which is held in the highest esteem by pool aficionados, pool fans, pool players of ALL caliber, and industry members.

Having a pool tournament at a casino, though, is not good for pool action. Most players who GAMBLE also like to gamble in the casino. Big shock there! :D

I heard Tony Chohan won a big chunk of change on the blackjack table. He did put it back in action, or maybe I should say Tony's roommate put it back in action by playing Flyboy, giving Flyby 10 to 5. Flyboy won. So the casino may have lost in this deal, unless Flyboy shot it back on a casino table game after he won.

I commend Greg Sullivan and think it is wonderful that he found a place to house the Derby City Classic this year. Sometimes change is hard to fade, but I am sure there will be some new changes next year to make the DCC the best that it can possibly be! :smile:
 
justpool said:
It appears i made the right choice this yr DERBY, stay home. 1st i have missed! The boys better rethink next yrs. because if the derby is not back at the east hotel count me out again. I saw all the negatives coming for the fact it was held at a casino. :(
Click to expand...


Amen...I also skipped DCC becase of these fears that are becoming reality.The DCC was great where it was and Greg was trying to take it to the next level but things happen beyond his control like this economy and dont know if he wold even consider going back to the old location. I dont plan on going anymore unless its the old location.
 
Sorry that some didn't enjoy it as much as the old location. I know Greg only wants whats best for the players and fans. He just loves the game and is one of the few in the industry who gives back to the game. I also missed this years Derby (first time since the first year), due to concerns over the location, job, weather, etc. Also I don't think Greg had a choice in the relocation of the tournament due to changes the Executive West was making. Lets give him a chance and see what happens next year.
 
Guess I made the right decision not going this year.

I see the prices I estimated of being too high were UNDERestimated.

I remember having the added expense of a pet and going by myself would cost about $800 for the entire tournament. No way I could go now for under $2000. My income hasn't doubled, it actually has gone DOWN in this economy. I do not envy Greg Sullivan for having to deal with all these issues. Its gotta be rough. He spoiled us for years for having the best tournament in the world at a bargain basement price. Guess those days have left us.

I am not a fan of casinos so hopefully they have it somewhere else in '10.
 
It's a shame that there are so many - glad I decided not to go this year - folks on here. I had a really good time, and other than the tables being a bit too close to each other and walls, etc., thought the layout wasn't all that bad. Sure, finding some of the tables spread out upstairs (in rooms you had to look into to even know there were matches going on) wasn't perfect...if the spacing were better (plus a bit more spectating room) there wouldn't be nearly as many complaints.

Where I thought the complaints would come from were the TIME issues...draws happening HOURS after what was posted, and players being shown obvious favoritism in regards to showing up on time (sometimes even rescheduling matches for some no-shows). Goes to show what I know.

I would still attend again even if everything was exactly the same next time......
 
From a spectator point of view I like the new venue better. The upstairs where you can view 4 or 5 of the main tables AND the TV table alone do it for me. The chairs are the 6 over the Executive with padding and a moving backrest, Not to mention the 300% better food and food locations. The Legends Sports Bar was probably the best casual dining experience I have had in 8 years of traveling. The hall and tournament room are not freezing with a wind whipping through like the Executive. There are more bathrooms.
Sadly the Action room is not great for player or fan but I am staying up all night far less than i used to anyway.

At any rate i get the feeling the Horsehoe LOVES the DCC. I see it returning with reduced room rates and logistical improvements next year.
 
I think the DCC/Horseshoe venue judgement may be based on each persons perspective. For a player being there 10 days: the room, laundry, food, refreshments, etc. is costly. For a spectator going for a day or two, the cost is not that bad. Plus there is more to do for a spouse who is not into the pool events like us diehards.

I had the foresight to bring a cooler with fruits, refreshments, etc. and there was no problem in bringing some down to the tournament room unless it violated liquor laws. The seafood buffet was great and the time in the casino was a refreshing change. If not for the ice storm in the area it would have been only a short trip to town for a variety of open resturants.

Viewing the tournament action was excellent.

Overall, Greg has my respect and compliments for continually making the best pool tournament even better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top