I have been thinking about the Derby City Classic for a while now, just trying to make a decision as to go or not.
The DCC is the tournament of the year for most of us, in that there are so many different things that we can choose to participate in. I'm not going to list all of the things that you all know are there but I might ask you what in particular attracts you to the Derby City Classic?
I like the fact that I might get to play one of a hundred different professional pool players in a single tournament; the inexpensive cost for that match is lagniappe. It is always a lot of fun to belly up to the table with a professional even if you get an old fashion whipping. It's more fun when you give one and you have a heck of story to tell when you get home.
For the most part, we here on AZ Billiards are amateur pool players. We don't depend upon pool tournmanents or sponsors for our main income.
The Derby City Classic is at a crossroads in my opinion. This crossroads has unlimited potential. I don't know how many of you are aware that Harrah's Properties owns the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel where this year's Derby City Classic is being held.
Harrah's has 54 different casino properties.
If we show up in numbers at this tournament this year and obtain a free Harrah's Card, spend a little money eating and drinking, playing poker, playing pool; oh and maybe a little gambling at their table games or slots, it is possible that something REALLY BIG could happen. Can you imagine if Harrah's likes the turnout at the Derby City Classic, what can happen? They could easily fund a NATIONAL TOUR. That National Tour could be held at Harrah's Casino properties the world over. If such a tour were to be funded by Harrah's, it could even bring pool to television. We've previously discussed what television advertising dollars can do for pool so I won't say more about that.
I've had some other things going on in my life that have side tracked me and I've been undecided about going to DCC. I know that Efren, Francisco, Ralph, Darren, Karen, Jeanette and a slew of other professional pool players will be there for sure.
What I really like about having the DCC at the Casino is that they have plenty of good food, lots of great security and plenty of clean bathrooms and nice hotel. Those are givens.
This year you can invite your better half to go to the DCC as a mini vacation. The pool rooms are all sold out at the Casino Hotel (at least for now). You can still get a room at the Holiday Inn a few miles away and the DCC will have a shuttle running back and forth from the HOliday Inn to the Tournament. In addition, you never know if the Horshoed Casino doesn't sell out all of their "gambler rooms", they may give the DCC some additional rooms.
There's a lot at stake right now, not just for the DCC but for pool in general. With the economy in the dumpster right now, casinos are looking at new revenue streams or at least at new target audiences. If the pool world shows up in the right numbers at this year's DCC, it could open the door to some awesome tournaments.
Look, it's plain as the nose on your face. The casinos have what we need to host big pool events: LARGE SPACE, GOOD FOOD, GREAT LODGING, SAFE ENVIRONMENT. They just don't now if they want us and we will have to show them that we are a valuable target audience. That doesn't mean that we all have to be "whales". We can just show up and have a good time without going off for the family's jewels. Like most pool players that gamble, I have had my time at the crap tables and the card tables. It doesn't hold the same interest for me that it once did. I can gamble in the casino or just have a nice meal there and never miss going off for my dollar.
Anyway, I believe I have made a decision to go even if it is only for a few days or the weekend. Now, I just have to decide when and where.
I know I have Roy, the Fish from Norway who doesn't care if he is putting out the seine or being put in the seine.
I have been playing in the local handicapped tournaments rather well but in the non-handicapped tournaments I have been sucking air.... go figure...
My individual matches with kindred spirits has been about even on the money for the last several months.
The GingerBread Man could be going and maybe I might get another glimpse of Pool Wars or maybe become a part of Pool Wars II. (J/k)
Maybe, I can get Fatboy to stake me against the Tooth. I'll be sure to borrow some beta blockers from SpiderWeb Comm.
It's getting close to Christmas and I have been trying to make a decision about going to the DCC as it is only a month away. With airlines begging for customers, there may be some cheap Internet flights available or I might get one of those "stand-by tickets" from my Delta Airlines buddy. :help:
Anyway, I think there is a lot at stake for pool with the DCC being held at a Harrah's property and hope to see you there.
Best Regards and Happy Holidays.
JoeyA
The DCC is the tournament of the year for most of us, in that there are so many different things that we can choose to participate in. I'm not going to list all of the things that you all know are there but I might ask you what in particular attracts you to the Derby City Classic?
I like the fact that I might get to play one of a hundred different professional pool players in a single tournament; the inexpensive cost for that match is lagniappe. It is always a lot of fun to belly up to the table with a professional even if you get an old fashion whipping. It's more fun when you give one and you have a heck of story to tell when you get home.
For the most part, we here on AZ Billiards are amateur pool players. We don't depend upon pool tournmanents or sponsors for our main income.
The Derby City Classic is at a crossroads in my opinion. This crossroads has unlimited potential. I don't know how many of you are aware that Harrah's Properties owns the Horseshoe Casino & Hotel where this year's Derby City Classic is being held.
Harrah's has 54 different casino properties.
If we show up in numbers at this tournament this year and obtain a free Harrah's Card, spend a little money eating and drinking, playing poker, playing pool; oh and maybe a little gambling at their table games or slots, it is possible that something REALLY BIG could happen. Can you imagine if Harrah's likes the turnout at the Derby City Classic, what can happen? They could easily fund a NATIONAL TOUR. That National Tour could be held at Harrah's Casino properties the world over. If such a tour were to be funded by Harrah's, it could even bring pool to television. We've previously discussed what television advertising dollars can do for pool so I won't say more about that.
I've had some other things going on in my life that have side tracked me and I've been undecided about going to DCC. I know that Efren, Francisco, Ralph, Darren, Karen, Jeanette and a slew of other professional pool players will be there for sure.
What I really like about having the DCC at the Casino is that they have plenty of good food, lots of great security and plenty of clean bathrooms and nice hotel. Those are givens.
This year you can invite your better half to go to the DCC as a mini vacation. The pool rooms are all sold out at the Casino Hotel (at least for now). You can still get a room at the Holiday Inn a few miles away and the DCC will have a shuttle running back and forth from the HOliday Inn to the Tournament. In addition, you never know if the Horshoed Casino doesn't sell out all of their "gambler rooms", they may give the DCC some additional rooms.
There's a lot at stake right now, not just for the DCC but for pool in general. With the economy in the dumpster right now, casinos are looking at new revenue streams or at least at new target audiences. If the pool world shows up in the right numbers at this year's DCC, it could open the door to some awesome tournaments.
Look, it's plain as the nose on your face. The casinos have what we need to host big pool events: LARGE SPACE, GOOD FOOD, GREAT LODGING, SAFE ENVIRONMENT. They just don't now if they want us and we will have to show them that we are a valuable target audience. That doesn't mean that we all have to be "whales". We can just show up and have a good time without going off for the family's jewels. Like most pool players that gamble, I have had my time at the crap tables and the card tables. It doesn't hold the same interest for me that it once did. I can gamble in the casino or just have a nice meal there and never miss going off for my dollar.
Anyway, I believe I have made a decision to go even if it is only for a few days or the weekend. Now, I just have to decide when and where.
I know I have Roy, the Fish from Norway who doesn't care if he is putting out the seine or being put in the seine.
I have been playing in the local handicapped tournaments rather well but in the non-handicapped tournaments I have been sucking air.... go figure...
My individual matches with kindred spirits has been about even on the money for the last several months.
The GingerBread Man could be going and maybe I might get another glimpse of Pool Wars or maybe become a part of Pool Wars II. (J/k)
Maybe, I can get Fatboy to stake me against the Tooth. I'll be sure to borrow some beta blockers from SpiderWeb Comm.
It's getting close to Christmas and I have been trying to make a decision about going to the DCC as it is only a month away. With airlines begging for customers, there may be some cheap Internet flights available or I might get one of those "stand-by tickets" from my Delta Airlines buddy. :help:
Anyway, I think there is a lot at stake for pool with the DCC being held at a Harrah's property and hope to see you there.
Best Regards and Happy Holidays.
JoeyA
