DerbyCity responce

[Quesports]

I was not at the DCC. But what I am reading reminds me of state level league pool tournaments. The similarities are numerous. Lousy food, matches being played all day and night and players completely exhausted. Don’t even mention the rest rooms!!!

Hope the issues can be corrected, the DCC is a classic and the players and fans deserve better.. JMO.

 

[Bahgs]

I think any collaboration/partnership between DCC and digitalpool/cuescore would absolutely be a step in the right direction. I would hate to think that there wouldn't be a major effort to improve the functionality for an event such as DCC.

 

[jasonlaus]

Greg/DiamondGreg/Diamond
thanks to all who participated in the 2023 Derby City Classic, whether as players, fans watching on the stream, or spectators in attendance. While I am delighted to have completed another Derby City Classic, I cannot ignore some of the negative feedback I’ve been getting from various sources in the aftermath of the event.

The 10:00 AMcompletion of the Derby City 9-ball event is not something I am taking lightly. Asking players to play for so many consecutive hours to win the title was regrettable.

I know that the delay put undue stress on the players, some of whom were so tired in the late rounds that they could not perform at peak level. I realize that some had to risk missing their flights out of Louisville to continue competing, and that was hardly fair.

Similarly, the late finish performing in their peak form but got less. In addition, many fans didn’t even get to see the late rounds of nine ball as the matches were played in the early morning.

Spectators in attendance had it just as bad as the players, called on to either pull an all-nighter or go to bed and miss the last matches.

In view of these problems, we at Diamond Billiards will be studying what happened at the 2023 Derby City Classic in order to find methods of improving the management of the event. We are not satisfied with how it went and want our patrons to know as much.

To help us fix the problems, we encourage both players and fans alike to offer us additional feedback through social media outlets and pool websites, to which we'll pay attenti

Bravo

 

[kanzzo]

Why does it have to be a 9 day tournament? Wouldn't extending it to 2 weeks and improving some buy back options so players know, when they can take a dinner break and have like 2.5 hours left between games get rid of most problems (and allow the 14.1 challenge back in)?

 

[RailKing85]

Greg/DiamondGreg/Diamond
thanks to all who participated in the 2023 Derby City Classic, whether as players, fans watching on the stream, or spectators in attendance. While I am delighted to have completed another Derby City Classic, I cannot ignore some of the negative feedback I’ve been getting from various sources in the aftermath of the event.

The 10:00 AMcompletion of the Derby City 9-ball event is not something I am taking lightly. Asking players to play for so many consecutive hours to win the title was regrettable.

I know that the delay put undue stress on the players, some of whom were so tired in the late rounds that they could not perform at peak level. I realize that some had to risk missing their flights out of Louisville to continue competing, and that was hardly fair.

Similarly, the late finish performing in their peak form but got less. In addition, many fans didn’t even get to see the late rounds of nine ball as the matches were played in the early morning.

Spectators in attendance had it just as bad as the players, called on to either pull an all-nighter or go to bed and miss the last matches.

In view of these problems, we at Diamond Billiards will be studying what happened at the 2023 Derby City Classic in order to find methods of improving the management of the event. We are not satisfied with how it went and want our patrons to know as much.

To help us fix the problems, we encourage both players and fans alike to offer us additional feedback through social media outlets and pool websites, to which we'll pay attenti

What's important is that your recognizing it, owning it, and taking steps to rectify it. Which is commendable. As the game and popularity grows there will be those who stand out and take corrective action, and those who will fail in this realm. Those in the business should take note.

It's amazing to watch this sport grow in popularity. I look forward to more events like this. Cheers Diamond Billiards

 

[jay helfert]

Because he is just as entitled to create his own thread as someone who is nothing more than another spectator who creates their own thread to pontificate.

I agree. My point being it might have been wise to read over SJM’s thread prior to starting his. A lot of the “feedback” he was requesting had already been posted. Kapeche

 

[VVP]

Well, it’s nice to see some form of acknowledgement from the organizer about the chaos that happened this year at the Derby. If I recall correctly, the 9 ball finals also ran late last year, but not nearly as bad as this year. I only view the Derby online so some of my suggestions might be inaccurate/unworkable, but here they are:

• While the PPV is not under the direct control of the event organizers, the organizers must demand better from Accu-Stats. All of their events that I have paid for have had buffering problems in the beginning days and then seem to get better at the end. It might be due to frustrated viewers just leaving so less traffic later during the later days??
• The Derby is a unique tournament where you have parallel events taking place at the same time with the same players taking part in both so this by itself can produce a scheduling lag where a person is playing in one event and is up to play in the other. This could be mentally and physically demanding on the players also. Given that one-pocket and 9-ball are more mentally challenging games (imo), would it be better to run the one-pocket in parallel with the Bigfoot and banks in parallel with the 9 ball?
• Use historical statistics to figure out the average time per match and determine how many rounds can be accommodated in the allocated timeframe for each event and cap entries based on this evaluation.
• Set a cut-off date in advance of the tournament for sign up so that draws can be made and databases can be populated before game day.
• Assign players block time to play so they have rest periods in between – say 3 hours of play (1 match in each parallel event) followed by 3 hours of rest to eat, power nap etc. This might need a software program like digital pool to do.
• Use a double elimination program and assign players a bye in matches where the opponents did not choose their buy back option. I believe this can be recognized by the software and no table is assigned in these cases and it might speed up the event.
• Get input from pro players.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

Mr. Sullivan, the DCC has been an outstanding event from its inception to the present success. Congratulations. I think everyone wants this success to continue, however, it has some growing pains which are easily recognized by the comments and suggestions.

I found that often times managers fail in their response to these problems due to using this three step approach...READY, FIRE, AIM. Make sure the problems are clearly identified before solutions are implemented. This is usually the most difficult part and the major problem causing managers to fail.

By thinking outside of the box, you have started an innovative plan to invigorate pool for the players, spectators, and viewing audience. Keep it going.....

 

[jasonlaus]

Why does it have to be a 9 day tournament? Wouldn't extending it to 2 weeks and improving some buy back options so players know, when they can take a dinner break and have like 2.5 hours left between games get rid of most problems (and allow the 14.1 challenge back in)?

That's a lot of extra expense with no additional $$$. People placing high enough to make a $1,000 for the derby(and thats not a lot of people with expenses) become instant losers with the added expense of 5 more days.

 

[Bob Jewett]

Couldn't something like THE BCAPL Scoring App be utilized? I know when my players submit a match, the results are instantly posted to my League Management System and to FargoRate.

Maybe Mike can custom program an app just for use by DCC?

The current DCC format is redraw every round. That is a very rare format. They already have custom-made tournament management software tailored to the format. It is not done manually.

 

[maha]

so greg congrats for coming here and explaining things and listening to your customers.

that is what good business is all about.

you went from almost getting dumped on to moving your like button way up to the top of the hill.
when your customers become followers of you then you know you have succeeded.

as a business grows it is imperative to delegate out the various portions.

 

[lfigueroa]

Why does it have to be a 9 day tournament? Wouldn't extending it to 2 weeks and improving some buy back options so players know, when they can take a dinner break and have like 2.5 hours left between games get rid of most problems (and allow the 14.1 challenge back in)?

Two weeks…

and who is going to pick up that hotel bill?

Lou Figueroa

 

[buckshotshoey]

Two weeks…

and who is going to pick up that hotel bill?

Lou Figueroa

I was thinking the same. And all the other expenses. How much is a regular double occupancy room there?

 

[maha]

traditionally the world series of poker went for about 5 weeks. some came and went according to what they wanted to play. but many stayed the whole way.
it also didnt eliminate players that couldnt fit a specific time into their schedule.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Here is another potential strategy. DCC at its core is different than all other events, because "action" is encouraged. There is an action room available 24 hrs per day, and the main tournament tables are open after the matches conclude each night.

Some of the suggestions have been to minimize the action tables, and allot them to the main tournament. Other comments have suggested the pros don't even gamble much anymore. Other comments have been the times are different now than 25 years ago when action was more prevalent.

With the schedule the way it is now, if a pro wanted action, they actually could not do it. There is simply no time. Wheres when the fields were 200 players per division, and there was no Fatboy/Bigfoot, there was plenty of time, and much action was had.

So, even if all the tables were utilized perfectly for the tournament, 500 player fields would still prevent the pros from engaging in action. If the fields were limited much less, to let's say 300 max, then there would be a shift, and the action would probably return, due to extra free time.

With all that said, a direction may need to be chosen for the DCC. Is it more action? Is it more tournament? What is the split? The answer to that could lead to which of the solutions to scheduling to implement.

 

[dendweller]

Here is another potential strategy. DCC at its core is different than all other events, because "action" is encouraged. There is an action room available 24 hrs per day, and the main tournament tables are open after the matches conclude each night.

Some of the suggestions have been to minimize the action tables, and allot them to the main tournament. Other comments have suggested the pros don't even gamble much anymore. Other comments have been the times are different now than 25 years ago when action was more prevalent.

With the schedule the way it is now, if a pro wanted action, they actually could not do it. There is simply no time. Wheres when the fields were 200 players per division, and there was no Fatboy/Bigfoot, there was plenty of time, and much action was had.

So, even if all the tables were utilized perfectly for the tournament, 500 player fields would still prevent the pros from engaging in action. If the fields were limited much less, to let's say 300 max, then there would be a shift, and the action would probably return, due to extra free time.

With all that said, a direction may need to be chosen for the DCC. Is it more action? Is it more tournament? What is the split? The answer to that could lead to which of the solutions to scheduling to implement.

that's blasphemy

 

[Badpenguin]

Ditch the streamer who has been used for the last two years, the price charged and service provided just isn’t working. I will not purchase from them again. Paying $60-$80 to watch 15 or 20 exhibition matches, and only seeing 20 or 30 of actual tournament matches that number over 2000, it is just a ripoff.

Warn long play players once, then throw them out of the tournament if they continue. Put a time limit on matches so everything can be scheduled.

Quit the nonsense with tight pockets. We want to see American pool, not Chinese/English 8-Ball or snooker.

When it becomes obvious to every spectator that the TV table has a rolloff, fix it.

Figure out a way to do draws even when the current round is not complete. If a match isn’t complete, pair both players in the next draw as a way of place holding the winner of that match in the next round.

 

[SBC]

I really appreciate your suggestions and will definitely discuss it with my partner. We changed to a race to nine to satisfy the WPA with the increased attendance in the tournaments time is definitely something that we gotta look at. Thanks for the suggestion.

Please try to expand to more locations.
Would be one of the greatest things for American Pool.
Atlantic City, Philly, Florida....maybe something out west someday.
You'd fill them if the locations were accommodating.

Been to DCC in 2012 and 2014. Just the best pool event possible. Thank you for all you do.

 

[Baby Huey]

Putting players on the clock will not shorten the time. If you allow average golfers to compete with top pros and they shoot 100 for a round especially average players are matched up playing each other, what would that do to elasped time for the tournament? You have to start earlier on friday and each day thereafter. You also have to start some matches late but not bring those players back early the next day unless reaching the quarters, semi's and/or finals. Just start at 10 AM opening Friday and 8AM thereafter. On the one loss side (if both have one loss) races to two at least until the money rounds. Saving ten minutes here, twenty minutes there, half and hour here adds up at the end of the event. Use the CCTV table more often. There were long periods where it went unused. Clear out those chairs and add three tables maybe four to that area when you have nothing scheduled there. I'm sure some of my suggestions may not be able to be implemented due to staffing constraints etc but clearly starting earlier and starting later matches would help.

 

[iusedtoberich]

Speaking of alternate locations, I don't think Tunica didn't last due to Bonus Ball taking some of the players. The economy was in the crapper then, everything was doing poorly. If you had it today, it would probably sell out. IMO