Did Efren ruin it for everyone?

[Bob Jewett]

... Another consideration. Take away the 150 pros and their family/friends and how many actual ticket buyers were in attendance? Myself and 6 others from here. Spetty, Kay, Fred, Linda and maybe a couple dozen other real fans from what I could see.
...

For many tournaments which depend on admission for their success, a low turnout would be a problem. For the KotH, attendance was not an important issue. Packed stands were only important as a backdrop for the TV. In a similar way, the World 9-Ball Championships in Cardiff (Matchroom Sports Production) were not too concerned about ticket sales. Admission was free until the weekend, and then the tickets were very reasonable. Matchroom made their money not with entries, which I think were $0, nor with admissions, which I doubt were over $10,000 total, but with the TV sponsorships, which I imagine were over a million. 60 hours of live TV in the UK.

If the TV hours go up, I think physical attendance will too, as more new people want to see the events live. I think a move from Orlando to Las Vegas might help too. While Orlando might be "The City Beautiful," I'm betting that more people want to go to Vegas.

 

[rackmsuckr]

Not trying to be a nit picker but if he told me that was reason for cancelling I would have questioned it immediately. SUPER BOWL WEEKEND IS FEB. 4-5
not in January.

Yes, the original tournament was scheduled for Jan. 31 through Feb. 5. Plus the LJJ/MS match was such a success that he has been offered more choice venues.

 

[jjinfla]

... For the KotH, attendance was not an important issue. Packed stands were only important as a backdrop for the TV...

I understand Bob. I am only stating the obvious, that if you can't get people to watch the greats play pool in person what makes anyone think that they will watch on TV? You need butts in seats. At the venue or in front of their TV. Actually, how many of the 150 who were not playing in the event would have been there if attenance was not mandatory? And how many people will attend a pool event and sit there for 12 hours each day for 4-5 days? Working people can't do it. And even for retired people that is losing a lot of time from the time they have left. I doubt if I ever will spend that much time at an event again. Just go back to attending part of one day. See a few matches and leave.

Pool, as it is presented on TV now just does not have a great audiance appeal. There is no drama or excitement. Even watching Allison roll over her opponents is getting boring. And the pros just don't understand that they have to generate a following of fans. Like Arnold Palmer and his Army. Thousands would line the fairway to watch him. But millions more watched TV just to see him. Same thing with Tiger and Wei. What you see in attendance at the match is a small percentage of what watches on TV.


Now look at NASCAR and Pro Football. What you see in attendance there is also a small percentage of the people who watch on TV. So the numbers who watch on TV are huge. Millions.

It will be a real challenge to put the 8-ball matches on TV. Especially since most of them took 2 hours to complete. Look at how people complain because 9-ball matches are cut to fit in an hour spot. And most 9-ball matches only take an hour. Imagine what they will say about 8-ball being cut.

Maybe KT will buy Q-Billiards and have a place to hold his events. For what he paid to rent and setup the Convention Center he can own his own place. And then lease it out to someone to run when the pros are not there. And he can even have one pro from the IPT Tour there each night for 4-6 hours
to mingle with the fans. I'm sure the pros could fit in 2 days a year to help the tour.

Heres some happy fans in super VIP seats:



Jake

 

[PoolBum]

I happened to be sitting next to Charlie Bryant for a spell, and some fan seated behind Hillbilly kept saying he'd back ANYBODY against Mike Sigel for $100,000, over and over again.
JAM

Awesome, then he can back me and Mike and I will split the $100,000 when he beats me.

 

[Timberly]

Yep, that's Angry. He's definitely a one-of-a-kind. I've only talked to him a couple of times but he doesn't appear to be someone that hides his opinions. He'll tell you what he thinks even if it isn't really what he thinks.

And LOUDLY too! LOL, he'll be the 1st one to get onto people for being disrespectful for not clapping on good shots and games won, or for someone being loud....then out of the clear blue sky he'll start b!tching about something loudly as he's sitting along the rail 3 feet from a tournament table. LOL, the guy is a pc of work!

 

[XMit]

I don't know what you all will think of this, but. The majority of 8 Ball players are in the local BCA bar leagues. Do you think that the IPT would do much better to market at the lower level to start? Say KT took out a small amount of money and hired a team of people to advertise in the taverns that there is actually an 8 ball tour?! I think most would be more than happy to tune in to see the game that they play.
I play in a BCA 8 ball tavern league and the majority of my teammates and opponents had no idea there was such a tour and when they found out about it were more than happy to find it on the tube....I even have a teammate that would travel to see it live.
Maybe the IPT should go more grass-roots so to speak and reach out to the common players....like me, for instance.

I know for a fact after my discussions with other players that this would be a jackpot of marketing.

Maybe open some satellite tournaments for spots on the pro tour like the WPT does, I KNOW that this would draw interest.

Any opinions??

 

[vagabond]

And LOUDLY too! LOL, he'll be the 1st one to get onto people for being disrespectful for not clapping on good shots and games won, or for someone being loud....then out of the clear blue sky he'll start b!tching about something loudly as he's sitting along the rail 3 feet from a tournament table. LOL, the guy is a pc of work!

hi Timberly,
One time he gave me a dirty look when I asked him where he is from.He did not give any verbal response.